Imagine a child being told their murdered mom was worth only $50,000.
News that some of the families of serial killer Robert Pickton’s victims had settled their lawsuit with Victoria focuses attention once again on B.C.’s inadequate wrongful death law.
The province’s archaic legislation governing the compensation for the loss of loved ones due to other people’s wrongful conduct perpetuates a long-standing injustice.
Investigations by the coroner’s office and the children’s commission (the latter of which was abolished in 2002 by the B.C. Liberals) found Heidi died of medical errors.
But when Adamson asked her lawyer about the next steps after Heidi’s death, she was told there were none..
If justice is the goal, federal Bill C-35 is a step forward but leaves an enormous gap.
Introduced in Parliament on June 2, the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act will become a hollow remedy unless amendments are made that provide damages for loss of life, as laid out in British Columbia by the proponents of a Wrongful Death Act.
It would be a massive understatement to say that the time has come for British Columbia to enact a Wrongful Death Act. BCCPD, along with other community partners, are continuing to advocate for a new one to replace the current law that has existed for 162 years.
