Bill C-424 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act (protection of the public)

This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.

This bill was previously introduced in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session.

Sponsor

Geoff Regan  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of June 17, 2009
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Youth Criminal Justice Act to
(a) specify that the protection of the public is the primary goal of that Act;
(b) repeal the presumption in subsection 29(2) that detention is unnecessary;
(c) amend paragraph 31(5)(a) so that when the designated responsible person is relieved of his or her obligations, some of the young person’s obligations may nevertheless remain in effect;
(d) amend subsection 31(6) so that the young person may be detained in custody; and
(e) remove the time limit for a young person to attend a non-residential program.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Youth Criminal Justice ActRoutine Proceedings

June 17th, 2009 / 3:40 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-424, An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act (protection of the public).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Ottawa—Vanier for seconding this bill.

This bill strives to fully implement all the federal recommendations stemming from the Nunn commission in Nova Scotia. It is in response to the tragic death of a Nova Scotia teaching assistant, who was killed in 2004 in a car crash by a repeat young offender. It encompasses all of the Nunn recommendations, including those that were ignored by the Conservative government.

I should emphasize the work of Mr. Justice Nunn. I also want to thank Hugh Wright, the lawyer for the family of Theresa McEvoy, for his invaluable assistance with drafting my bill.

In meeting with Halifax's police chief and other law enforcement officials, and at town hall meetings I have held with residents of my riding, it is clear that the changes I am bringing forward are necessary. I am sure my colleagues from Nova Scotia have heard the same thing from their constituents.

A senseless stabbing in my riding just a few short weeks ago also reminded me that we have to do a better job of dealing with young offenders.

I look forward to the input from all sides of the House on this bill. I hope everyone in this place recognizes that the changes my bill proposes for the Youth Criminal Justice Act would help make our streets and neighbourhoods safe for everyone.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)