Specialized court for sexual and domestic violence comes to Maniwaki

Tashi Farmilo

Victims of sexual and domestic violence in the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau no longer have to face the court system alone. Quebec launched its specialized court on June 15, for these cases in the Labelle judicial district, and the Maniwaki courthouse is among the two getting dedicated staff, training and victim-focused changes.

The announcement was made by Justice Minister and Attorney General Simon Jolin-Barrette, joined by Gatineau MNA Robert Bussière, who represents the area, and Labelle MNA Chantale Jeannotte. Bussière called it excellent news for the people of Maniwaki, noting that for too long the realities faced by victims were not adequately taken into account in the justice process.

For Maniwaki specifically, the most concrete change is a new face. A sociojudicial liaison worker is being added at the Crime Victims Assistance Centre (CAVAC) de l'Outaouais to serve the Maniwaki courthouse. That worker's job is to support a victim from the moment they come forward through to the end of their case, assess the risks they may face, and connect them with specialized resources in the region. The district is also gaining a prosecutor at the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, so that a single Crown prosecutor can follow a victim through each stage rather than passing the file from hand to hand.

Inside the courthouse, the model brings physical and procedural changes as well. The province points to warmer, more secure waiting areas designed so victims do not have to cross paths with the person they have accused, along with testimony aids such as screens and rooms for testifying by video. Everyone likely to work within the specialized court receives training on the realities of sexual and domestic violence.

The province is careful to note what does not change. The specialized court does not alter the law that applies, and the rights of accused persons remain the same.

The Labelle district, which also includes the Mont-Laurier courthouse, is now the 32nd of Quebec's 36 judicial districts to adopt the model. It is part of a province-wide rollout the government has committed to completing by November 2026 under the 2021 law that created the court, and it began as a pilot project before being expanded based on what those early sites showed.

For a community like Maniwaki, where distance from larger urban centres can already make the justice system feel remote, the practical question will be whether the added staff and supports change the experience for people who come forward. That answer will take time to measure, but the resources are now in place locally.

Anyone affected by sexual or domestic violence can find support through CAVAC de l'Outaouais and SOS violence conjugale, which operates a 24/7 line at 1-800-363-9010.