Hon. Lucie Moncion: Honourable colleagues, I rise today to mark, for the second consecutive year, Jury Duty Appreciation Week in Canada, which is taking place from May 7 to 13 this year. It’s an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the experiences of thousands of Canadians.

I want to sincerely thank those who have served as jurors. The purpose of my statement today is to honour them and to express my great appreciation for them.

Serving as a juror requires investing a lot of time and effort during the period of the summons. This experience can also help people gain an appreciation for the justice system and a greater understanding of how it works.

Every year, thousands of Canadians are called to fulfill this civic duty, which depends on the collaboration of many parties. In performing their duties, jurors need the support of their employers, the federal, provincial and territorial governments, the justice system and their communities. The support of each of those parties is important and must be valued.

Jurors make a civic contribution, but it is also important for us to remember that jurors are people. Serving on a jury can often have a negative psychological impact on jurors both during and well after the trial, and many of them suffer in silence. We need to pay attention to these issues so that we can try to meet their needs.

We must also ensure that the administration of justice is fair and equitable, which involves, among other things, convening diverse and inclusive juries that are truly representative of the Canadian population.

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Playing a vital role in the rule of law, the act of serving as a juror is an essential component of both our justice system and democracy. It is crucial for the administration of justice and the judicial system, and in some cases, it is necessary for Canadians to exercise their constitutional rights. In fact, anyone accused of a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment of five years or more has the right to a trial by jury.

I would like to express my gratitude and admiration for Mark Farrant, former juror and the President of the Canadian Juries Commission, for his efforts in raising awareness and bringing attention to the significance of supporting this civic duty among governments, courts of law and the Canadian public.

I have had the opportunity to share my personal experience as a juror on multiple occasions in this chamber. I hope to have conveyed to my colleagues and the Canadian public about the importance of this civic duty, which is shared by many others who have served as jurors. Moving forward, I am hopeful to witness a continued and robust participation in this annual meeting dedicated to promoting and raising awareness of issues affecting jurors and former jurors. Thank you.