I am a survivor of sexual assault, not once but twice. In both instances, the perpetrators were my domestic partners. The first assault was so severe that it resulted in hospitalization and blood transfusions - I could have lost my life. Despite this, the offender served only three months in jail after repeatedly breaching his bail conditions and eventually had his charges stayed.

In my last relationship, despite being convicted of assault and sexual assault, the perpetrator received what he desired - a two-year community sentence with an initial nine-month house arrest on an ankle bracelet followed by curfew for the remaining 15 months. The crown attorney had sought a 2 year period of incarceration.

These experiences are not unique to me; they are shared by countless survivors across Canada who see their assailants receive lenient sentences or evade prison altogether. Sexual assault is one of the least reported crimes in our country due to various reasons including fear of retraumatization through court processes and lack of faith in receiving justice.

Currently, there is no minimum sentence for sexual assault as it's considered a hybrid offense allowing the crown to proceed summarily or by indictment. This needs to change! We need mandatory minimum jail terms for those convicted of sexual assaults to send out a clear message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated.

By implementing stricter punishments we can encourage more victims to report these crimes knowing that justice will be served while deterring potential offenders from committing such acts. Let's make Canada safer for everyone!

Please sign and share this petition if you believe that survivors deserve justice and those guilty should face appropriate consequences for their actions. Any contributions are greatly appreciated to help in demanding justice for survivors.