The Alberta government is moving to remove the time limit for victims of sexual and domestic violence in taking their case to civil court.

Minister of Justice, Kathleen Ganley says it increases access to the legal system for survivors.

"Most provinces have removed the limitation period for survivors of sexual violence, this will also extend it to domestic violence as well as what we're terming sexual misconduct," she says. "So, on some of those fronts Alberta will be out front now, we've gone from being behind to being in front."

She's not sure if it will open the gates to a lot of civil suits but says it does provide survivors with the opportunity to bring forward actions if that's what they want to do, without concerns that it may be too late.

Elizabeth Halpin, a survivor of sexual assault explained she was too traumatized through the process to launch civil action, especially when police were not able to follow through with charges, and when she did recover and decided to move ahead the time limit had run out, feeling like another door had closed on her.

Minister Ganley hopes the bill will pass quickly.

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