Four years after the launch of the pilot project for specialized courts handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec completed the rollout of these courts across the province on Monday. Premier Christine Fréchette and Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barette were at the Longueuil courthouse to announce the completion of the rollout in the province’s 36th judicial district. Fréchette emphasized that this specialized court initiative, unique in the world, aims to restore victims of sexual and domestic violence’s trust in the justice system. She paid tribute to the “boldness and determination” of her justice minister, who spearheaded this reform, which, according to him, created a “safety bubble” around victims to help them navigate the arduous legal process. Jolin-Barette explained that this measure, which required an investment of $230 million, has enabled the judicial system to assist some 53,000 victims. It led to the training of 14,000 judicial system personnel at all levels, from court clerks to judges, as well as the creation of 129 positions for specialized support workers and 83 positions for prosecutors dedicated to the role within the Criminal and Penal Prosecutions Directorate. - By Pierre Saint-Arnaud - This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 6, 2026.
