Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to speak in the House of Commons this evening.
As most hon. members know, the government fully supports the concept behind the bill. We have incorporated it completely into the proposed legislation, Bill C-68, the youth criminal justice act which currently is at second reading in the House. The Reform Party member for Surrey North should take some credit for that inclusion.
Let me first look at the current situation under the Young Offenders Act. It provides that young people who are denied bail can be released to a responsible adult who undertakes in writing to care for the youth and ensure compliance with the conditions set by the court. Currently a wilful failure by the responsible adult to comply with the undertaking is a summary conviction offence.
Bill C-260 would amend the Young Offenders Act to make the offence of wilfully failing to comply with an undertaking a hybrid rather than a summary conviction offence, that is give an option for the offence to be treated as a summary conviction or as an indictable offence with the possibility of a prison term for up to two years at the discretion of the crown. The new youth criminal justice act also provides for the same hybrid offences treatment.
The government feels that a wilful failure to comply with an undertaking to act as a responsible adult in relation to youth is very serious. It is useful to allow a prosecutor to use discretion as to what charge to bring forward.
It is no secret that we greatly appreciate the hon. member's important contribution to the new youth criminal justice act. However, the motion put forward by the government at this time would allow parliament to deal with the issue in the more comprehensive government youth justice bill that is already before the House.
Once again it is important to note that the concept behind Bill C-260 has been completely incorporated in Bill C-68. While Bill C-260 seeks to amend the Young Offenders Act, Bill C-68 seeks to replace the Young Offenders Act with an entirely new act, an important element of the government's youth strategy. Therefore I move:
That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “that” and substituting the following therefor:
“Bill C-260, an act to amend the Young Offenders Act, be not now read a second time but that it be read a second time this day six months hence”.