They used to be crucial to defence counsel because it was only then they were guaranteed disclosure of the Crown's evidence. "Maybe not have hard and fast rules, but make sure that Crown counsel [and] judges that oversee sort of pre-trial meetings between Crown counsel and defence counsel can sit down and make reasonable admissions and do the streamlining on a case-by-case basis." In the meantime, she says her department is looking at the impact of mandatory minimum sentences. Wilson-Raybould says her department is reviewing the mandatory minimum sentences in the Criminal Code with an eye to scrapping many of them. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)"Certainly, we recognize for the most serious crimes, mandatory minimum penalties are entirely appropriate," the justice minister said.

Source: CBC News February 11, 2017 13:52 UTC