28°c A few clouds
15°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Panel investigates just one death since 2010 start
ONTARIO'S domestic homicide review committee scrutinized 33 cases last year in a bid to prevent more women from being killed by their husbands and boyfriends.
So far, Manitoba's death review committee has tackled just one case.
Provincial officials say Manitoba's committee is more probing than Ontario's, and they want to be sure their first review is done right. But Conservative MLA Myrna Driedger says the new committee is moving far too slowly and operates without enough transparency.
Driedger said there is no reporting mechanism that allows the public to learn about the committee's findings. She said the committee should at least release its recommendations.
"The mandate of the committee is to look at gaps and points of intervention to help prevent other deaths," said Driedger. "How are we even going to know if they are closing those gaps?"
Driedger twice proposed a private member's bill to create a domestic violence death review committee before the NDP government created one of its own in June 2010.
The committee, which includes police, prosecutors and family violence experts, will look at some of the nearly 40 "intimate partner" homicides that have occurred since 2006 once the cases have been dealt with by the courts.
The committee just finished its first case review and is about to deliver it to Justice Minister Andrew Swan. The province won't say which case it studied.
Ontario's death review committee releases an annual report, which includes fairly detailed summaries of every case -- with names redacted -- and a list of recommendations.
Suzanne Gervais, executive director of Manitoba Justice victims' services and chairwoman of the death review committee, said the group is still working out what, if anything, it will eventually make public.
To get people to participate and to avoid adding to a family's trauma, the province has guaranteed the privacy rights of victims and their families. The committee may not even release an annual report but it could offer a summary of its cases and findings once enough reviews have been done to offer anonymity to those involved.
In its first case review, the committee made recommendations to the justice minister, but it's up to the minister to release those recommendations.
Gervais also said the committee does a more intensive study of a case, which is why the first review has taken some time. Ontario's review process tends to focus more on paper records, while Manitoba's committee interviews people involved in the case, including family members.
"We wanted to take our time to make sure we're getting it right," said Gervais.
The committee will be doing more death reviews this year, though it's not clear which cases may get scrutinized or how many.
maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca
Domestic homicides in Manitoba
2006: 3
2007: 8
2008: 5
2009: 8
2010: 7
2011: 4
2012: At least four so far
-- sources: Statistics Canada, Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 28, 2012 A4
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Glover quits quarrel over election costs
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- MP Glover files new version of disputed 2011 election expenses
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Kids of St. Ignatius make Sweet gesture to beloved crossing guard
- Ex's Mach 3 an adrenaline accelerator
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Traffic heavy as Bomber fans flock to U of M
- St. Norbert's hopping
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- UPDATE: Now with FAQ: Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Daycare provider charged with abandonment
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Kids of St. Ignatius make Sweet gesture to beloved crossing guard
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- Province's new approach to teaching math long overdue: readers
- New crowd plan for Taylor Swift get-together
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Ex's Mach 3 an adrenaline accelerator
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- A day in the life of 13,380 Manitoba Marathon participants
- Doctors blamed for death
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Teachers support adding sexual-orientation themes to all curricula
- The crime fighter's revolution
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- City's first urban reserve born
- On board with the Snowbirds
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.