Bill C-231

An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act

This enactment amends the Youth Criminal Justice Act in order to
(a) clarify the measures governing addiction treatment programs for young persons;
(b) enable, in some cases, the youth justice court that finds a young person guilty of an offence to delay sentencing to enable the young person to participate in an addiction treatment program;
(c) enable the youth justice court to include in certain orders the condition of attending an addiction treatment program; and
(d) provide that failing or refusing to comply with such a condition cannot by itself result in a custodial sentence.

Youth Criminal Justice Act

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

moved that Bill C‑231, An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a broken heart that I rise in the House today for the second reading of my private member's bill, the friends of David bill, to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act. I am heartbroken because, as the name suggests, I am doing this for the friends of my son David, who is no longer with us today. This bill is not going to change anything about his own journey, the choices he made or the great void he leaves behind.

Although we continue to mourn his untimely passing, my wife Caro and I decided that, rather than standing idly by, we should try to do our small part to help those who I call David's friends, all the young teenagers who, at some point, gave in to the temptation of drugs. My heart is broken because I do not know whether I should tell David's story. He was a bright young man who was always willing to lend a hand, as well as a protective older brother to his two younger sisters. He was curious and strong, always wanting to try everything for himself, thinking that he would always remain in control of his decisions and that he could try everything without any consequences for himself or others. He was an addict. Despite how confident he seemed, he always needed someone or something to help him get through the day. We will never know his full story because the illness he may have been suffering from was never diagnosed. It was covered up by all the drugs and substances he had to take to remain the David who was not afraid of anything, but who was always anxious when it came time to take action.

Yes, Bill C-231 is very personal for me and my wife. It is not easy for us to talk about David in front of everyone, putting on display our weaknesses and his, our life and what our life might have been. We decided to do it anyway, because if we are silent, there will be other Davids, other parents who will not know what to do, other children who will grow up without their father, and other wives who must go on without their husband.

The story of David and his friends is the story of young people who, as teenagers, discover in drugs a way to hide their profound unhappiness. Using drugs just for fun becomes the doctor they did not see, the medications they did not take, the solution society was not able to offer them. Let me be clear: A young man using marijuana for fun with his friends once in a while is not a lost cause. Kids will be kids, as the saying goes, and an occasional joint has not prevented the majority of young people from going on to have a good life, build a successful career, and find happiness. I am not some old fogey who thinks that banning everything is the only way to make the world better. Everyone who goes through an ordeal like this agrees that a joint from time to time does not hurt anyone.

However, that is not true for everyone. Some young people have no idea, when they take their first puff, that one day they will not be able to manage without it. It will not be enough, and they will become addicted for the rest of their lives. It is for this handful of young people who will not figure this out until it is too late that we decided to act. Our first action, while we are still mourning David's death, is this bill, which seeks to change things and give those young people a chance to have a future.

Here are some of the questions the parents of David's friends are asking themselves. How can we change things? What went wrong? What did we miss as parents? Are the schools we entrust with educating our children and preparing them to become adults doing a good job? Do we want to help these youth or punish them so as not to “contaminate” others around them? Does the health system have the tools to deal with the reality of these young people? These are questions that keep running through our minds.

That brings me back to Bill C‑231. Can minors be compelled to undergo treatment? When students turn 14, schools are not allowed to call the parents to discuss their health issues, but they can call the police to have them arrested. The police can arrest minors and take them before a judge for illegal possession of drugs. If the minors appear before a judge, they will almost always be sent back to school with a slap on the wrist without anyone trying to understand how they got into this situation in the first place. The bottom line is that we treat the wound without looking at the story behind it. We tend to dress the visible wound and neglect the more critical injuries.

The parents of the David' friends are not blind. They can clearly see that something is off. However, it is not always as obvious as one might think. Many people think it is just a passing phase that kids go through. We choose not to see the small changes taking place in our kids' lives. Over time, the parents of the David's friends get more concerned and they look for help from family physicians, special education teachers at school, social workers, anonymous help lines or friends who have gone through similar situations. I think any of these are good actions. Everyone involved needs to face a difficult reality: If a teen refuses to listen, fails to acknowledge they have a problem or is unable to face reality, those wanting to help are left with no option but to step back and leave them to their own devices.

The police and prosecutors now rarely arrest and charge young people for drug possession. Marijuana is legal, there is a high burden of proof and the justice system is overwhelmed. The parents of David's friends are left to fend for themselves while the friends of David have no idea where they are headed. That is why my wife and I are calling on my colleagues to support Bill C-231 for the friends of David.

This is a straightforward bill. It gives the police and judges additional options when a young person is arrested and taken to court under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The bill would allow them to refer the youth to an addiction treatment program, delay sentencing until after the end of the addiction treatment and take into account the youth's compliance with the program at final sentencing.

The current law allows a judge to order a young person into an intensive support and supervision program. That is what the law says. However, it does not specifically mention drug treatment programs. After consulting with police officers, I realized that many of them do not want to prosecute young people who are struggling with substance abuse. They feel that a slap on the wrist, the police showing up, that is enough. That slap on the wrist no longer really hurts, however, and police officers often feel that the justice system will not really help these young people anyway. However, in my opinion, the opposite should happen. This bill will encourage young people to recover from their addiction, rather than punishing them for being addicted. Most importantly, we want to prevent minors from turning to crime to support their addiction by becoming drug dealers in order to have the means to afford the remedy that society has been unable to give them.

By passing Bill C-231, MPs will send a clear message to judges that drug treatment should be a priority. By passing Bill C-231, MPs will send a clear message to law enforcement that when a young person is brought before a judge, it is not to punish them, but rather to offer them a way out so they can heal. By passing Bill C-231, MPs will be sending a clear message to people in the educational system that action needs to be taken rather than turning a blind eye and doing nothing in the hopes that it is just a passing phase. By passing Bill C-231, MPs will send a message to David's friends that drug use that leads to addiction is not just another crime, but rather an illness that can be treated with appropriate care.

Bill C‑231 for David's friends is not reinventing the wheel. The adult criminal justice system already allows judges to reserve their sentence after imposing an addiction treatment program. Why not open this possibility to minors, for whom early treatment could change their whole lives, before they turn to crime as a way to afford their damn drugs? The House can send a message to thousands of young Canadians who are still minors that their country cares about them and that they can count on their elected representatives to pave the way toward a happy future free from the clutches of addiction.

I could have filled my speech with statistics on the number of young people who use drugs, drugs of all types. I could have talked about the alarming figures on fentanyl, which is ravaging our major cities. I could have talked about the number of overdoses, which kill thousands of young adults every year. I do not need to provide numbers. I am simply asking people to open their eyes and see what is happening around us, especially with homelessness and drug use in the streets and near schools. Once that image is clear in their minds, I ask them to imagine that it is their child. Would they too hope that society could have intervened on that child's behalf at an age when it was still possible to make a difference? I think the answer to that question alone is worth more than all the statistics I could have spent 10 minutes rattling off to demonstrate the scope of the problem we are facing.

In any event, the statistics do not exist. I tried to find out more about the number of drug users who are minors, the treatments available to them, the number of admissions, the number of relapses following treatment, but it is like the Tower of Babel. Each province has its own program, its own methods for managing addiction. Some provinces perform very well, others not well at all.

Additionally, in preparing my speech for today, I wanted to know whether I was on the wrong track. I am not a doctor, and my wife is not a social worker, so I organized a round table with representatives from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. I found this reassuring, but also worrying, given the discussions we had around the table. I can say right off the bat that no one felt I was heading in the wrong direction with Bill C-231 for David's friends.

The World Health Organization defines addiction as “an uncontrollable urge to consume a substance (alcohol or drugs) and a tendency to increase the dose, resulting in a psychological and sometimes physical dependency. The continuation of the abusive use of substances has adverse effects on the physical, emotional, social and economic health of individuals and their families.”

I find that definition too simplistic, and unfortunately, it is often used to guide health decisions around the world. It defines addiction by its consequences on people with addiction, so it is a definition of the effects of addiction. What is missing is simple. Drug addiction must be recognized for what it is: a mental health problem. Drug addiction is a mental health problem like any other health problem and it can be treated.

I am not saying it can be cured. I am saying that people with addiction, particularly young people, should have access to treatment as early as possible in their addiction journey in order to treat their illness before it takes over their entire lives. It should also be just as easy to access treatment as it is for drug users to get access to drugs. I can personally attest to the fact that this is not the case.

It is hard to get access to health professionals. Sometimes, there are months-long wait times to get an appointment with a psychologist, a psychiatrist or physician. Public treatment programs are not available in all regions. There are waiting lists while private treatment centres are costly and prohibitively expensive for young people and their families. These young people are already ruined financially due to addiction while their parents are burdened with the substantial financial toll of their children's addiction.

There are immense challenges and time is running out. I know full well that Bill C-231 will be but a drop in the ocean in the world of narcotics, but we know we have to start somewhere. A good starting point is recognizing that the Youth Criminal Justice Act should not treat all young addicts as offenders but as people who are sick and cannot take care of themselves. A judge would never send a young person streaked in blood to prison first before sending them to hospital to have their injuries treated. Why then do we send them to youth addiction centres without giving them treatment for their mental injuries?

The consequences of doing nothing are serious. For our family, for my wife and me, Bill C-231 could perhaps have made a big difference for our son, David, who took his own life on February 10, 2025, leaving our grandsons fatherless and his partner a widow far too early. We still miss him terribly. Even though with time, we have come to better understand everything that my son went though, we will never understand the terrible thing he did to himself and to those he loved. We are angry at the system for not helping him. We are angry at society for not facing up to its responsibilities, and we are angry at ourselves for failing to take action. Bill C-231 is also a special tribute to one of David's friends who also took his own life shortly after David did because he was unable to overcome his grief and his demons.

I am asking my esteemed colleagues to make this small change for all the friends of David, all those who suffer in silence, who seek solace and answers in drugs and who may not have access to the care they need. Let us do it so that the justice system can force the hand of all government bodies so that young people finally have access to help. I need my fellow members to talk openly about addiction, to be part of the solution for all the friends of David across the country. On behalf of David, my wife Caro and my entire family, I am asking all members to support Bill C-231.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Once again, on behalf of the House, I want to convey my sincere condolences to the member.

The hon. member for Winnipeg North.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I extend to my friend across the way condolences on the loss of David, as well as a special shout-out to his wife, Caro.

I know that this has been a very difficult time. Prior to having this discussion, we had a very short chat regarding the issue. It is admirable that we have substantive legislation before us that would send a very powerful message of caring and wanting to do what we can as legislators. I appreciate that.

I had the chance to go over the legislation, and the question I have for the member is this. To what degree is he open to having some favourable amendments to provide assurances that we are moving in the right direction if we can get the bill to the committee stage?

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, everything we can do as a House to improve the lives of our children, everything we can do to improve this bill and make it more effective for our children, I am open to hearing about. I cannot be alone in this fight. I need all of my colleagues to be part of this, to show young people in this country that the House cares about them.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his moving speech. Of course, our thoughts are with him and his family following the loss of his son.

I recently had an opportunity to speak with a nurse from Rimouski who works in a hospital emergency department. She told me that fentanyl is becoming a serious problem, even in the regions, along with marijuana, of course, since it was legalized. My colleague referred to that. New and increasingly more powerful drugs are finding their way here on a regular basis, which can make it harder for young people to break free from addiction.

Will my colleague's bill give judges the opportunity to expedite the process so that people can get help?

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of Bill C-231 is to enable judges to get young people into treatment, but also to remind judges and the entire justice system that treatments are available and that a young drug user is not necessarily a criminal. A young drug user may be someone suffering from an undiagnosed or undetected mental illness. Drugs become the remedy that society has failed to provide to these young people.

I am convinced that if we can intervene as soon as possible, before young people start using fentanyl or harder drugs, as was the case with David, then we can turn their lives around. That is why we must not wait until young people are in the justice system as repeat offenders before offering them the chance to get treated. We have to intervene as soon as possible.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has shown such courage, but not only that, he is taking concrete action as well. Earlier, my colleague mentioned that this might just be a drop in the ocean. I disagree.

Having worked in addictions treatment and prevention for years, I believe that this bill will make a big difference, and my colleague needs to know that. It is easy enough to see physical or visible suffering, but when someone is suffering from mental health issues, that is invisible. My colleague is taking an important step with this bill.

I wonder if he agrees with me that our organizations will need health transfers in order to have all the resources they need to help our minors.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague talked about courage, but I am talking about resilience. I am here, we are here, and we did not ask to be here. We are going through this like many parents are. I can say that many parents have gone through these trials since this happened to us, but they do not have the privilege that I have, as a member of Parliament, to be able to talk about it and raise awareness.

I am not yet ready to talk about specific amounts. I mentioned that in my speech: There are so many disparities between the different provinces that everything will not be solved with a wave of a magic wand. However, we must send a signal that we are going to take care of it.

[Jessica Fancy-Landry, Liberal, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by acknowledging my colleague, the member for Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière, for his courage in bringing forward Bill C-231, the friends of David act. His openness in sharing his family's tragic experience reminds us that every policy discussion in this House must remain centred on real people, real families and, unfortunately, sometimes real loss. I extend my heartfelt condolences to him and his loved ones.

Before entering public life, I spent many years working as an educator and administrator. In that role, I saw children and young people carry in their backpacks burdens that are far heavier than any child should ever have to carry. Addiction, especially in youth, is not an individual struggle. It becomes a family struggle. It reshapes homes, disrupts education and pushes parents into impossible positions where they must become caregivers, counsellors, caseworkers and crisis response teams all at once. Those experiences stay with us. They shape how we see policy and remind us that behind every bill, every motion and every debate in this chamber, there is a young person who simply wants a chance to be well.

In my constituency work in South Shore—St. Margarets, that truth comes up again and again. I have sat with families that are exhausted from navigating fragmented systems. I have spoken with youth whose involvement in the justice system began only after their addiction had gone untreated, sometimes for years. I have heard from parents who are on wait-lists for services that should never have to be wait-listed at all. One mother told me that loving a child with addiction feels like breathing with only half a lung. Another said every day is a mix of hope and fear, hope that their child will finally get the help needed and fear that the window for help might close.

Those stories guide me as I reflect on my colleague's bill, Bill C-231, and the important issue it raises about treatment and rehabilitation for young people involved in the youth justice system. The heart of this bill seeks a deeply human question: How do we make sure that young people struggling with addiction get the right supports at the right time? That is the question I believe this House must focus on.

We know that the Youth Criminal Justice Act already contains pathways for treatment, whether through diversion, integrated case planning, probation conditions or delayed sentencing when appropriate, but the reality in too many parts of this country is that the services themselves are not always there when they are needed. A law can direct a young person to treatment, a judge can recommend it, a family can beg for it, but if the treatment does not exist or the wait-lists are months long or transportation is impossible or aftercare is inconsistent, then we are setting young people up for failure, those who need help the most.

For me, this bill is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to talk about strengthening access, strengthening coordination and ensuring that youth who come into contact with the justice system do so in a way that leads to stability and not toward deeper harm. It is also important that we maintain flexibility, so that every young person's unique needs can be met. Some will require addiction treatment. Others will need trauma-informed therapies, mental health supports or longer-term residential care. Many will need wraparound programs that continue, like family counselling, cultural supports or aftercare that extends beyond the courtroom. We cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to youth, something I have said for years. Their lives, their experiences and their healing journeys are way too diverse.

As this bill continues through the legislative process, I believe our work should focus on ensuring that youth have timely access to services and the laws that direct them toward it, that judges retain the ability to tailor conditions to the needs of each individual youth, that treatment is part of a holistic rehabilitative program rather than a stand-alone obligation, and that, most importantly, aftercare, such as community programs and family supports, is recognized as an essential component of recovery, not just optional ones.

Treatment is not a single event. Treatment is a pathway. For too many young people, that pathway is broken long before they step into a courtroom. I saw it many times in my classroom or in the offices when I was an administrator. As someone who spent time with both educators and families, someone whose community includes youth who are struggling right now, and someone who has walked alongside parents who carry the fear of losing their child every day, I want this to be unequivocal: Young people deserve every possible chance to heal, recover and rebuild their lives.

Our role, for every one of us in this chamber, is to make sure that the systems surrounding them actually make that possible. This is what my colleague is trying to do with his bill. If this bill helps bring us closer to a more compassionate, responsible and supportive youth justice system, then we owe it to our young people across the country to work together and to get this right.

We cannot change the past that brought so many youth into this justice system, but we can change what happens next. We can ensure that, when a young person reaches out for help or when a court directs them to help, that help is truly there. That is the responsibility we hold. It is the work that is ahead of us, and it is what young people in Canada deserve.

I support the work of my colleague.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Madam Speaker, as Parliament winds down before the break, we are working very hard, and I appreciate your efforts. I also appreciate the outstanding work of my colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière. I mentioned to him earlier how valuable it is.

There is a lot of noise, Madam Speaker. This is a very—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

I will have someone check to see what is going on in the lobbies.

The hon. member for Laurentides—Labelle.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Madam Speaker, this is not an easy subject, but it is important to talk about it. I told my colleague earlier how resilient and courageous he is. He is taking action and wants to make things better. For those who did not hear his speech, I will try to explain what Bill C-231 is all about.

The bill seeks to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act to clarify the measures governing addiction treatment programs for young persons. This would allow courts to delay sentencing to enable the young person to participate in an addiction treatment program. The bill also provides that failing or refusing to comply with treatment conditions cannot by itself result in detention. My colleague can rest assured that the Bloc Québécois will vote in favour of a bill that will help save lives. I am thinking of David and David's friends, and I am thinking of Caro and my colleague, because Christmas is right around the corner, and that is always a major milestone. I am glad that we already talking about it in 2025, so we can take action as quickly as possible.

My colleague is right to say that the “war on drugs” approach does not work. I can speak to this because, when I first started out in my career way back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, I was involved in psychosocial intervention in the areas of drug addiction and suicide prevention. At that time, things were very different than they are today, as frontline workers would go directly to the scene whenever an incident was reported. Today, tighter security is required because there are increased concerns and complications when a mental health issue, including drug and psychotropic use, goes undiagnosed. It became clear to me when I was 20 that people should not be punished; rather, they should be supported and listened to so that they can receive the necessary care.

I would also like to say that for a number of years, I have almost always had a naloxone kit with me. As elected representatives, we are often in contact with crowds at events, and we never know when a situation may arise. I would encourage all my colleagues to get a kit, as naloxone is an extremely valuable antidote than can save a life in the event of an overdose.

This gives me an opportunity to share that in the years that followed, I made sure that the community organizations where I lived had as many tools as possible to help teens and young adults. I commend the work done in Quebec by the organization Mesures alternatives, which has locations throughout the province. The one I am most familiar with is Mesures alternatives des Vallées du Nord. I wish to recognize Marc‑André Roy in particular. I do not know how long he has worked there, but I do know that his focus is prevention, and I am sure the statistics reflect some solid results. Although my colleague did not wish to present any statistics, I think it would be a good idea to compile the current data so that once the bill is passed, the impact on prevention efforts can be measured. We can say already that Quebec has an advantage in the form of its 2018-20 national strategy for psychoactive substance overdose prevention, which aligns perfectly with the steps proposed by my colleague in his action plan.

First and foremost, we must educate people and raise their awareness. That is what we are doing today. That is important. Second, we need to prevent overdoses and re-educate people about harmful effects. That means we need to address the underlying causes of drug use. My colleague put it very clearly: People use drugs recreationally, but there are also those who use drugs as a crutch because they are suffering. Obviously, that is what we are dealing with today. We need to produce legislation, along with public policies and regulations. We need to have monitoring and surveillance. This bill will allow us to collect information and to have the tools needed to ensure that our young people receive the support they need. Obviously, we also need research, training and addiction treatment. I spoke about naloxone a few minutes ago, but naloxone is an emergency antidote for use in exceptional circumstances. There are many other treatments that I will not speak to this morning.

Obviously, there is treatment of pain. Sometimes, people use cannabis to relieve physical pain, while others use it for mental pain. We need to speak about that too, and I have seen that more and more people are willing to do so. Men and women of all ages are increasingly opening up about their pain. Suffering is not something that can be measured; it is something each of us experiences differently.

I would therefore like to commend my colleague for his very moving speech. If he needs a hand at any time to fine-tune this life-saving bill, we are here for him. It is very sad that David will not be here this Christmas, but the action we are taking here will have an impact, and it will not just be a drop in the ocean. On the contrary, it is a small step that will turn into a big step, and it will help all young people, particularly those experiencing major challenges.

With the two minutes I have left, I am going to share some statistics. As my colleague said, the opioid crisis caused 20 deaths a day in Canada in 2024. That adds up to 53,821 opioid-related deaths, according to data from March 2025. Men are more likely than women to die from an opioid overdose. In 2024, Quebec ranked fourth in terms of opioid-related deaths, with 645 deaths. Even one death is too many. I explained the approach being used in Quebec. Considering the reduction it achieved in deaths from opioid overdoses, I hope that all the other provinces and territories will consider using it too.

I thank my colleagues, and I want to take this opportunity to wish them all a happy holiday. I also want to wish my colleague a lot of courage and compassion.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to respond to my colleague's deeply moving remarks about Bill C-231, the friends of David act. First, I commend him for having the courage to share such a personal story in the House. My colleague's words remind us that behind the statistics are families, communities and broken dreams. The story of the member's son David is not only heartbreaking, it is a call to action.

This bill seeks to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act so that judges and law enforcement can send youths struggling with addiction to treatment programs rather than strictly imposing punitive measures. The aim is not to excuse crimes, but to recognize that addiction is a health issue and that early intervention is needed to turn lives around before it is too late.

In British Columbia, we are living through a public health emergency that shows no sign of slowing down. Since the province declared the overdose crisis in 2016, more than 14,000 British Columbians have died from toxic, unregulated drugs. This year alone, B.C. is on track to surpass 2,000 deaths, the highest ever recorded. That means that six people die every day in one province. That's six lives, six families shattered.

These are not just adults. Youth are increasingly at risk. According to the BC Coroners Service, about 10% of overdose deaths involve individuals under 29, and many start using substances in their early teens. The Canadian Student Alcohol and Drugs Survey shows that the average age of first cannabis use is 14, and nearly half of students say cannabis is easy to obtain. For some, that first puff is not harmless. It can be the first step toward dependency and, tragically, toward fentanyl-laced substances.

When the member from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière speaks of David's friends, he is not referring to a small circle of acquaintances. He is speaking about thousands of young Canadians, boys and girls who are walking the same dangerous path. These are teenagers who turn to substances, not out of rebellion but out of pain. For them, drugs become the doctor they never met, the therapy they never accessed and the solution society failed to provide. David's friends are not criminals at heart. They are patients who do not know they are sick, yet under the current system, if they refuse help and deny their problem, we often abandon them to their fate.

Bill C-231 changes that. It gives judges and police the ability to open a door instead of closing one, to offer treatment instead of punishment. Every time we fail to act, another David is lost, another family grieves, and another group of friends wonder what they could have done. Supporting the bill, and I am so encouraged by the remarks so far this morning, means telling David's friends across Canada that we see them, that we care and that we will fight for their future.

Bill C-231 offers a practical solution. It does not reinvent the wheel. It simply extends to youth what already exists for adults, the ability to defer sentencing while a person completes an addiction treatment program. This approach saves lives. It gives young people a chance to heal before they become entrenched in criminal activity or fall victim to the toxic drug supply.

Let us be clear. Addiction is not a complete moral failure. It is a health issue, and when a young person is arrested for a drug-related offence, that moment can be a turning point, a chance to intervene, to connect them with care and to prevent another obituary.

As a society, we have a moral imperative to do more than speak words of compassion. We must turn those words into action. It is not enough to express concern while young lives are lost. We must offer real solutions, and I really do truly believe that we are doing that today.

We must develop those programs that match the urgency of our rhetoric, programs that meet young people where they are and give them a path forward. Bill C-231 is not the final answer, but it is a step in the right direction, a step toward a justice system that heals instead of harms and that recognizes addiction as an illness rather than a crime.

By passing the bill, we will affirm that Canada will not abandon youth in despair. In fact, we will improve our laws for youth. We can affirm that prevention and treatment are not luxuries but a necessity in our public health system. Every day we delay, another family grieves and another David is lost. Another group of friends wonder what they could have done. Supporting the bill means telling David's friends across Canada that we see them, that we care, and that we will make a level step forward to improve the system in our country.

For David, his friends and the thousands of young Canadians whose lives are at risk, let us make this change. Every day we delay is a day that more families will experience the pain that the member for Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière experienced and so courageously shared with us today.

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I want to offer my condolences to my colleague across the way and to his entire family. An incident like this does not go unnoticed. I was a teacher for at least two decades, and I saw situations deteriorate right before my eyes for certain groups of students. Teachers are still only allowed to speak to parents if the student gives consent. It is extremely difficult for teachers to cope with these conditions.

I rise today because this topic is very important to me. I deeply respect my colleague for having the courage to come share this in the House in the hope of improving the situation. This topic is extremely important not only to me, but to all Canadians, I am sure. Regardless of an individual's family situation, no one is sheltered from issues such as drugs, fentanyl, peer pressure and mental health. During my years as a teacher and as a coach, I saw athletes who could have performed very well at the national and international level get off track because of peer pressure, drugs and other substances that can disrupt the life of a young person, the life of a family, the life of everyone.

Bill C-231 is a bill brought forward by my colleague that pertains to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, or YCJA. I have a daughter who is in the throes of adolescence, so I cannot be indifferent to this. I have had occasion to try to keep a closer eye on her. We know that children will have their own experiences. We have little or no control over that, but I am thankful for what life teaches. We have still been able to keep an extremely close eye on the kids, but it is not because of us, their parents. I would like tell my colleague opposite that as parents, we do our best, but we cannot control all the experiences our children have to go through in life.

Bill C-231 proposes some changes to the YCJA in order to facilitate access to addiction treatment programs for young persons struggling with addiction who come into contact with the criminal justice system. In particular, this bill would amend the YCJA to clarify the measures governing addiction treatment programs and to authorize youth justice courts to delay sentencing in some scenarios so that young persons are able to participate in an addiction treatment program.

My colleague talked about treatments in his speech. There are many that can be used to prevent this. There are many treatments available to help with the illness of drug use. However, we can do better. Our government aims to prioritize permanent approaches for keeping young people away from criminal activities. As my colleague also mentioned, drug use comes with bad habits. It is a vicious circle. If people want to use drugs, they have to get drugs. To get drugs, they have to enter a world that is not exactly legal. It is a vicious circle. Our government seeks to prioritize that approach.

The basic principles of this bill promote accountability through measures that offer positive outlooks as well as rehabilitation for social reintegration. It also promotes the use of diversion measures for less severe crimes in order to cut down on the overuse of detention and save court resources for more severe crimes.

Vocational education teachers often deal with delinquency or the rehabilitation of young teenagers who have left the system. When I was a vocational teacher, the first thing I would tell young people was that I was welcoming them to their second chance, their opportunity to succeed in life, and that we would be there to support them.

It is important for adults to listen, but they may not always be the most suitable confidants for young people. If we had a system designed to help these young people overcome their challenges, many lives could be saved.

With the youth justice fund, the federal government provides an annual contribution of nearly $4.5 million to support projects that encourage a more effective youth justice system, respond to emerging youth justice issues, and enable greater citizen and community participation in the youth justice system.

This fund provides funding to “improve the youth justice system's ability to help youth rehabilitate and reintegrate; increase the use of out of court measures that are more effective in addressing some types of less serious offending...[and] increase the use of community-based sentences for less serious offending”.

Additionally, the federal government's youth justice services funding program provides all provinces and territories with an annual financial contribution totalling nearly $185 million for the period from 2021 to 2027 “to assist in the delivery of various programs and services that target youth who come in contact with the criminal justice system”.

Our government has also committed to providing urgent and immediate support in response to the overdose crisis. The federal government has developed measures to address the overdose crisis as part of the Canadian drugs and substances strategy. The government has committed to a public health and safety approach with a number of objectives, including making it easier to access vital services, reducing stigma around substance use and supporting prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.

The federal government has also committed significant funding to the illegal toxic drug and overdose crisis. For example, the federal government has invested over $750 million through the substance use and addiction program for more than 460 innovative community-based pilot projects since 2017, including peer support and capacity-building projects.

More specifically, when it comes to youth public health, the federal government has invested $500 million in the youth mental health fund. We have heard a lot about that from my colleague. These are illnesses that seem harmless, secret illnesses. We do not know what is going on in our kids' heads.

This program finally helps young people in Canada to access the mental health care they need. These investments mainly go toward increasing access to community-based mental health services and improving navigation and referral to mental health services and supports.

The federal government has also invested $20.2 million in the program to prevent youth substance use and associated harms. This program supports 12 community projects in developing a tailored approach to preventing and delaying substance use in youth.

Thanks to these investments, which are grounded in the realities that communities are facing, young people are getting the support, safety and opportunities they deserve when it comes to the prevention and treatment of substance use. In closing, this program made it possible to reach 198,200 young people through over 1,800 online sessions and 1,000 in-person sessions in high schools between April 2018 and March 2025.

In Canada, youth mental and emotional health and well-being is an important health issue that has several implications for the prevention of youth crime and for the youth criminal justice system. In Canada, people with mental illnesses and addictions are overrepresented in the criminal justice system.

Bill C-231 addresses an issue that is a major concern for all of us.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Madam Speaker, it is difficult for me to rise in the House this morning, but I do so with dignity. I think that what we have experienced this morning is one of the finest moments in the House in recent years. I commend my colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière for his courage. As a parent of teenagers, I have to say that what he went through is my worst nightmare. I also commend my colleague's wife, because together they made the decision to make this public so that we can remember their son. When he talks about David's friends, I am also thinking of all the parents of people like David who are still here and looking for answers.

The Bloc Québécois will support the member for Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière in this bill. For the Bloc members, the concept of prevention is certainly important. I commend the Conservatives for taking this step, under their colleague's influence, and bringing a dose of compassion to the debates, which is often sorely lacking.

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the work of those on the ground, particularly frontline workers, who see people in distress and who are often brought face to face with powerless people whose behaviours are dictated by their addiction, not their will. Those people are often neglected. We must commend those who work on the front lines. In light of that, I invite everyone here to develop a better understanding of what drives people to use substances. For some people, their first experience is in a social setting, but there are also people who are struggling with addictions.

I would also like to highlight the work of a young woman from my riding. Her name is Catherine Jutras. She is a friend and an overdose prevention consultant for an organization known as Arrimage. She conducted a study on drug use that was entitled “La consommation, un monde 'stupéfiant'”. During the study, she met with me formally in my capacity as an MP, and the organization made a video to demystify the use of psychoactive substances. She introduced her study with the following sentence: “I don't want to become a statistic. If you die from an overdose, you become a number”. Given the current circumstances, I think that is particularly striking. I want my colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière to know that his work means that David will always be more than a statistic and that taking action to support prevention will bring significant long-term change.

I would like to talk about some observations concerning the use of psychoactive substances that Ms. Jutras makes in her study. People use substances for different reasons, ranging from mere habit to self-medication, recreational use and physical and mental pain relief. The majority of the people who use psychoactive substances feel or experience stigma. That has to stop in order for interventions to be effective. Stigma arises from multiple sectors of society, including individuals who use psychoactive substances, the general public and social systems, such as political, health care and legal institutions. It is often perpetuated by professionals and individuals within these systems who may sometimes behave dismissively toward people who come to them for help. Stigma poses a significant barrier to recovery for individuals striving to improve their lives. There is some food for thought here. Should we collaborate more with the people who use psychoactive substances? Should they be more involved? Should we listen to them more? That is what our colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière is reminding us today.

I would also like to mention some of the recommendations she put forward, because I believe the bill will go a long way from a legal standpoint, but I would also like us to take this opportunity to go further in terms of the services that are offered. In her study, she recommends that we reevaluate our perceptions and further our understanding of the use of psychoactive substances; consider how current services provided in the regions could be improved and seek more involvement from people who use psychoactive substances; improve the understanding of professionals working with substance users about the overall phenomenon of psychoactive substance use and offer them appropriate training; treat people hoping to improve their living conditions with consideration and dignity, regardless of the means they used to obtain a service; treat the person holistically in order to avoid compartmentalizing support by issue or observable trait; and examine the range of specialized services available to support people experiencing grief associated with an overdose and to understand their specific needs.

There is so much to do. I would like to commend my colleague for his courage in taking such an important step today.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

The time provided for the consideration of Private Members' Business has now expired, and the order is dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

The House resumed from December 8, 2025, consideration of the motion that Bill C-231, An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[Laila Goodridge, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Bill C‑231, a bill for David's friends. This bill, introduced by my colleague and friend, the member for Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière, in honour of his son David, seeks to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

David left us too soon. He was way too young. I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleague and his lovely wife Caro for courageously taking the initiative to share their story and that of their beloved son. Passing this bill could help many young Canadians who are struggling with addictions.

In my previous role as shadow minister for addictions, I saw first-hand the chaos and destruction that addiction can cause in the lives of those struggling with the disease, as well as in the lives of their families and communities. I met individuals whose lives had been profoundly disrupted by substance use, where stable employment, housing and relationships had completely eroded over time. I also heard from parents, partners and children who were left to cope with uncertainty, fear and repeated cycles of crisis, relapse, overdose and recovery attempts. These experiences underscored how addiction is not an isolated issue but one that affects the entire family system and places significant strain on frontline services such as health care, law enforcement and social services.

Today I am going to share a story that is very personal. I want to profoundly thank my brother for allowing me to tell a part of his story. My brother Brent started using drugs at 14, while he was in high school, shortly after our mom's death from cancer. What started as teenagers being teenagers very quickly changed. He quickly fell into addiction, using drugs to get through classes and just to get by. He was in the world of addiction and active drug use for over a decade, a decade where he struggled to feel normal, a decade stuck. The only way he felt normal was when he was using drugs, through high school and just barely surviving. Through his decade of active drug use, he had many run-ins with the law. As a family, there was so much stress and so many sleepless nights wondering where he was, how he was doing and if he would ever find a path to recovery.

I told him about the bill and asked him about his thoughts. He liked it. He thought it would be a good idea and that it very well might have helped him when he first started on his path of addiction. He shared with me that he often wonders what his life would have looked like had he been offered treatment after his first run-in with the law as a minor, how much further ahead he would be had he not lost that decade stuck in addiction, had he been able to get the help he needed sooner.

After many years of struggle, he accepted that he had a problem, and he started his journey toward recovery. It was not a straight line, and it took so much work, but he put in the work. I am so incredibly proud to share that my baby brother is now in recovery from addiction and that he is over a year sober today. He is doing so well. He is in his first year of trade school as a plumber-steamfitter. He is literally and figuratively helping build Canada and build what we need, and showing that recovery is possible every single day.

These experiences have reinforced the importance of a compassionate, evidence-based response that prioritizes immediate safety and also long-term pathways to recovery, recognizing that addiction is a complex health condition. Early intervention in youth addiction is critical because it can significantly improve long-term outcomes by preventing experimentation from developing into entrenched substance use.

When we look at Bill C-231, that idea really sits at the centre of what meaningful reform should achieve, helping young people earlier. Why not? Most youth who come into contact with the justice system are not simply offenders. That was not the case for my brother. He was struggling with addiction, trauma and mental health challenges, and he needed someone to see him. He needed our justice system to offer him the support he needed, and that would have been addiction treatment. If the only response is punitive, we risk missing the chance to actually change the trajectory of their lives.

Adolescence is a window where intervention can genuinely work, where relationships, supports and treatment can redirect a young person before more patterns set in. Strengthening the Youth Criminal Justice Act in this way would reflect a more realistic and humane understanding of what kids need: timely support, accountability paired with rehabilitation, and coordinated services that address the root cause. Done properly, early intervention gives young people a real shot at stability, recovery and a future that looks very different from the path they were on.

This is one example where Alberta provides a powerful example through our PChAD, protection of children abusing drugs, program. Under PChAD, families in Alberta have a legal option where young people in severe substance use can get involuntary treatment. Families can apply to the court for help, and, importantly, the system responds in a way that is focused on stabilization and recovery, not punishment.

When a judge issues a PChAD order, the young person can be placed in a structured, supervised setting where immediate safety is addressed. Withdrawal can be managed, if necessary, and a clear pathway into treatment is created. It also brings families into the process in a meaningful way, rather than leaving them isolated and overwhelmed while trying to manage a crisis at home.

The practical outcomes are significant and very real. It means that a parent is not left alone, wondering whether their child will survive another night out in crisis. It also means that police are not repeatedly acting as the default responders to what is fundamentally a health issue. It means that emergency departments are not becoming the only safety net available. It means that young people are given a real opportunity to pause, to stabilize and to engage with treatment before their situation becomes worse.

PChAD is not perfect. No program is. However, it reflects an important principle: When addiction is present in a young person's life, early structured interventions can change outcomes. I have met some of the children who went through this program, and it changed their life. Recovery is in fact possible.

I am encouraging all my colleagues to consider supporting the bill and giving kids across Canada some of the support that is available if they happen to be lucky enough to be from Alberta. The same principle is what is here in Bill C-231. It is trying to bring more consistency into the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The bill asks us to recognize something simple, which is that for many young people, addiction is not separate from their contact with the justice system. It is often at the centre of it.

If we treat each court appearance as an isolated event, we miss the pattern and we miss the chance to intervene. The legislation is about connecting these dots. It would ensure that when the justice system sees a pattern, it could respond, and with more than repetition. It could respond with treatment, structure and a path towards recovery.

Members of the House all come with different perspectives, but we share one basic responsibility. We are here to make decisions that affect real people, especially young people who are struggling and still have a chance to turn their life around. Every single person has a chance to turn their life around, but why are we not affording this to the youth in our country? The bill is not asking us to choose between accountability and compassion. It is asking us to finally align them in a way that reflects reality.

Young people need both structure and support. Families need options, not hopelessness. Our justice system needs tools to match the complexity of what it is seeing. That is what Bill C-231 offers: a practical step towards a system that intervenes earlier, connects better and gives young people a real chance at direction.

One thing I will share is that recovery takes a lot of work. People who choose recovery are some of the bravest people I have ever had the chance to encounter. This is not them taking the easy way out; this is them doing the hardest work possible. What the bill from my colleague, the member for Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière, is proposing is simply allowing these kids to put in the hard work and get their life back on track.

I am going to close by saying this. If there is still time to help a young person turn their life around, we have the responsibility to try. Why would we not, for David, for the friends of David and for every family still hoping for a different outcome?

For David, for all of David's friends and for all the families across Canada hoping for a different outcome, we should pass this bill.

[Marianne Dandurand, Liberal, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to rise and speak to private member's Bill C‑231, which would amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act. For brevity's sake, I will refer to the act by its acronym, the YCJA.

I would like to salute the work of my colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière, whose riding neighbours mine. Tragic circumstances led him to work on this incredibly important bill. I would like to thank him for working on it and for his remarkable dedication to our young people and to changing lives, families and communities.

I would like to show that the bill's underlying goal is entirely commendable, considering that its aim is to amend the YCJA to strengthen the approach to addiction treatment program in its enforcement framework. Bill C-231 reflects the lived realities and daily challenges facing certain young Canadians. In Canada, youths aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental health and substance-related disorders than any other age group.

According to the Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 37% of students in grades 7 to 12—secondary school to residents of Quebec—reported that they had consumed alcohol in the past year. Over the same period, 18% of students had used cannabis, 6% had used prescription drugs in a manner other than prescribed, and 7% had used illegal drugs. Even more troubling was the fact that 22% of students reported having used two substances at the same time during their lifetime, while 18% had done so in the previous 12 months. Those are big numbers. In our ridings, what they represent are the effects of substances on young lives, families and communities, and some people looking for solutions.

I want to salute the work of organizations in my riding, such as Virage Santé mentale, L'Éveil, Phelps Aide, Mental Health Estrie and addiction rehab centres. Despite having very few resources, these folks work miracles to help young people. This is essential work, and it is even more desperately needed in the regions, where resources are limited, everyone knows everyone and accessing available resources is not always easy. Having more legislative tools to support youth and families is, as I said, of tremendous importance.

In this context, Bill C‑231 proposes to highlight and, in some cases, clarify the measures governing addiction treatment programs for teenagers. For example, it would require police officers to consider whether it would be appropriate to refer a young person suspected of a drug offence to an addiction treatment program before initiating or pursuing legal proceedings against that individual. The bill also proposes to allow, in certain cases, the youth court to delay sentencing to give the individual the opportunity to participate in an addiction treatment program. It also proposes to amend the YCJA to authorize the youth court to include, in certain orders, an obligation to participate in such a program. Finally, it provides that a mere failure or refusal to comply with this condition shall not result in a custodial sentence.

As we all know, the YCJA establishes a separate legal framework for young persons who have committed or are accused of committing a criminal offence, a framework that takes into account that they are more vulnerable, are still developing, and are still dependent on adults. One of the fundamental principles of the YCJA is to protect the public while promoting the rehabilitation and social reintegration of young offenders. It also emphasizes the importance of preventing crime by referring young offenders to community programs or organizations to address the underlying causes of their behaviour.

Bill C-231 is consistent with these fundamental principles of the youth criminal justice system, and the government intends to support it while proposing certain amendments in committee. In my view, this bill would benefit from certain amendments to better achieve its objectives.

For example, one of the changes proposed in Bill C‑231 would impose a new requirement for police officers to determine whether it would be appropriate to refer a young person, with their consent, to an addiction treatment program before initiating or pursuing legal proceedings. Bill C‑231 could be slightly expanded so that this requirement also applies to Crown prosecutors. This would further encourage the use of addiction treatment programs and referrals to those programs.

This approach would also be consistent with Bill C-16, the protecting victims act, which proposes to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act to specify that prosecutors must consider extrajudicial measures before initiating or pursuing legal proceedings. This requirement already exists for police officers under section 6 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The YCJA also recognizes that diversion measures are often considered the most appropriate and effective solution for addressing youth crime. They allow for prompt and tailored interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of delinquent behaviour. Extending this requirement to the prosecutor could help further encourage the use of substance abuse treatment programs both before and after charges are laid.

That said, it is important for the youth justice system to adopt a targeted approach to diversion for drug-related offences. The offences for which police officers and prosecutors should be required to consider referral to a substance use treatment program should be simple possession offences. More specifically, they should be limited to the possession offences set out in subsection 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and subsection 8(1) of the Cannabis Act. This would align the proposed amendments to the YCJA with the diversion measures added to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in 2022. More specifically, these measures include issuing a warning or referring the person, with their consent, to a program or organization that can help them. However, these measures may only be applied to persons suspected of having committed a simple possession offence.

The bill also proposes amending certain provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act to add guidelines and orders that apply exclusively to substance abuse treatment programs. This more restrictive approach carries certain risks. On the one hand, it could lead to unintended and adverse interpretations that might limit access to other types of treatment programs, particularly those focused on mental health or on behaviour modification and skills development.

One of the reasons this bill is so important is that it highlights the critical intersection between the criminal justice system and public health. However, public health issues are not limited to substance abuse. For example, in Canada, people living with mental health conditions are also overrepresented in the criminal justice system. For some of the proposed amendments, referring more broadly to treatment programs rather than solely to programs for addiction or substance abuse would allow the bill's objective to be maintained while avoiding the unintended exclusion of other important forms of treatment. For example, a broader approach would clarify that youth courts may defer sentencing to allow a youth to participate in various types of treatment programs, rather than limiting this option solely to substance abuse treatment programs.

Bill C‑231 pursues an important goal: to help young people struggling with problematic substance use access treatment programs so they can receive care rather than be punished by the justice system. It supports many of our election promises, with approaches that divert youth away from crime by providing urgent and immediate support to address the overdose crisis while protecting the public. For these reasons, the government is prepared to support this bill, while proposing certain amendments to strengthen its objectives and expand its scope.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I did not have the pleasure or honour of knowing David, but I do have the pleasure of knowing his father. We do not always see eye to eye, but I have a great deal of respect and a deep affection for him.

I am pleased to speak to this bill on behalf of the Bloc Québécois. I can say straight away that we will be supporting Bill C-231. Having read it, I would say that this is part of the Bloc's DNA. Since its inception, the Bloc Québécois has consistently supported diversion measures.

The Bloc Québécois believes in rehabilitation. Obviously, there are cases where imprisonment is necessary and where a firm hand is required. The Criminal Code is there for a reason, and that is a good thing. Our prisons serve a purpose, but we must be cautious. We must not treat them as a panacea. Imprisoning someone is not always a useful, or the most useful, option.

Because they are younger, our young people in particular are, by nature, less experienced and less mature. They are more likely to make mistakes, sometimes minor, but sometimes more serious. In either case, as a society, we must be compassionate and seek to guide them back onto the right path rather than imprisoning them in a system that may be difficult to break free from afterwards.

We had similar discussions back then on Bill C-5. These discussions were not always easy, and we, the Bloc Québécois, supported diversion. When I read Bill C-231, it seemed like a second chance to revisit this issue in a useful way, not only for the courts as a whole, but most of all, for our young people.

Addiction is less a legal issue than a medical issue. Locking someone up in prison for any amount of time will not cure an addiction. Treatment, however, can. Does treatment always work? No, certainly not, but does that mean that treatment is not worth trying?

Whether the child involved is our child, or the child of a loved one, a neighbour, a friend or a complete stranger, rehabilitation is a worthwhile investment for any child struggling with addiction. It may not work, and at some point, it may be necessary to admit defeat and opt for harsher measures like incarceration or other alternatives. However, when a young person is struggling with this kind of problem, enlisting measures outside the legal system is not only our duty, it serves our interests as a society.

The Bloc Québécois believes in rehabilitation, for both adults and young people. However, does a society have to invest billions of dollars to build prisons and hire guards to keep people who have committed crimes within its walls? In some cases, I would say yes, but in many others, I would say no.

Even when it comes to adults struggling with addiction, the Bloc Québécois has often said that these are cases in which diversion measures should be attempted. It is more profitable for society, more compassionate toward society as a whole and more effective, but especially when we are talking about youth rather than adults.

Our young people need love. I think that Bill C‑231 offers that. We wholeheartedly support our colleague from Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière on this bill.

I was listening to our Liberal colleague, who may have been hinting at the government's intention to propose certain amendments. There may indeed be some amendments. That said, I am pleased to see that all members of the House are on board with this idea, without division or partisanship, which is unfortunately often unhealthy. It is not because of ill will, but rather because we are often bound by the constraints of party platforms and campaign promises. That is the nature of the beast. We are here because we were elected on different platforms, and we need to stand up for our ideas.

However, there are instances like this one where the principles we uphold allow us to find common ground on a specific issue. That is the case here. I wonder whether we are dealing with a bill that could be one of the few opportunities we have to proceed by unanimous consent, or whether we could even fast-track it. I would love to see this bill come into force this spring, or as soon as possible.

As I said, I never had the pleasure of meeting David, but I would like to close by wishing him all the best.

I congratulate my friend on his bill.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to a topic that we often avoid discussing because it makes us uncomfortable. We do not like talking about it, but it is impossible to ignore: the distress among young people. As some members have already mentioned, 20% of young people experience mental health problems before the age of 18. It is therefore extremely important for us to address it.

These mental health problems will indirectly or perhaps too quickly result in addiction disorders that can often lead to preventable tragedies. As everyone knows, these things are happening and are present in schools, in some families and in ridings across Canada. Too often, however, our response falls short. As parents, we may not have the knowledge to deal with the situation. Even experts have limited time and resources. We are having a hard time addressing this ever-growing problem.

The problem is that we continue to look at what young people are doing without really trying to understand what they are going through. In some cases, they are suffering. Their suffering is expressed through actions and behaviours, and sometimes also through substance use. For many young people, substance use is not just a matter of curiosity. It is not just something they do because others do it, on a temporary basis, just to try it out or to have an experience. For some, it is a way of managing something that is hurting them. For some, it is a way of holding on, of continuing to move forward despite that pain.

Some young people have difficulty sleeping and are experiencing severe anxiety. They do not really understand what is going on in their heads. As we know, young people's brains are not yet fully developed. They do not necessarily have enough life experience to draw on to reassure themselves and tell themselves that things will be fine in the end. Some of them at a certain point, in their daily reflections or when they discover drugs, for example, find something that brings them peace. It is not a perfect or healthy solution, and some young people know that. However, it is enough to help them carry on. It is a solution that may be temporary, but all too often it becomes permanent. This is often how it starts. From that point on, using drugs becomes a response. It is not the right response, but it is one that is accessible, easy and consistent.

Meanwhile, support systems are difficult to access. There are waiting lists. Services vary from region to region. Parents are seeking help without really knowing where to turn. People are ill-informed, perhaps ill-equipped. Meanwhile, the substance is always there. It is readily available, without the need for an appointment. Access to it is consistent. The substance is attentive and non-judgmental. These young people end up becoming dependent on it.

We adults mean well. Professionals want to step in, but they often arrive too late, after a crime has been committed, after an arrest has been made. We often arrive once things have already spiralled out of control. How do we answer the call? We respond with a criminal justice approach, one that is not based on the young person's needs. We intervene based on the actions taken, but we do not really focus on what lies behind them. It is a band-aid solution. Yet, if there is one thing that is absolutely essential, in my view, it is prevention.

Prevention should always be a top priority. Prevention is precisely about preventing these problems whether they involve physical or mental health. If we, as a society, fail to take preventive measures, we should stop being surprised when they happen again. We must have the courage to acknowledge that the current model has its limitations. It is not because practitioners are not doing their jobs, but because, given its current structure, the system always responds too late, and often in the wrong place. That is exactly why my colleague's Bill C‑231 is so important. It introduces something we have not done enough of so far. It allows us to take a step back and ask what would happen if, instead of simply punishing people, we actually helped them.

In practical terms, what is the purpose of this bill? This bill would make it possible to delay sentencing so a young person can participate in treatment. It would make it possible to include treatment in the judge's decision, and that treatment could solve the problem. Most of all, the bill sends a very important message: A young person who does not succeed on the first try should not be put directly in custody, because the fact is that treatment can be a long and winding road.

Treatment involves relapses, setbacks and times when it is just not working, but that does not mean a young person has failed. It means they are going through a process, and the system should be able to understand that. This bill is telling us that we have to make a choice. We have to enact a law, and we have to make a choice about that law. Either we carry on with a problem-based approach, or we adopt a needs-based approach. This is a political and incredibly important choice.

An young person's brain is impressionable and can be easily molded. It is still able to create good reflexes and find good ways of dealing with problems. However, when the window closes, we often lose the young person and we lose them for a long time. Indeed, we need to pass this bill, but we also need to have the courage to go further. We need to make sure that services are available. We need to train case workers and ensure that programs are available across the country. Above all, we need to stop working in silos. That is key. Too often, today, justice works on one side, health works on another side, and social services is somewhere in there. In the middle is the young person and their loved ones, if they are lucky enough to have loved ones. All these professionals have to navigate a system that is not made for the young person. The young person also has to navigate a system that is not made for them.

However, let us be honest. Passing a bill without providing the necessary resources will not change much. If we tell a young person that they need to seek treatment but they have to wait three, six or 12 months, in reality, we are telling them that we are not ready for them right now. Timing is very important in a young person's life. Windows of opportunity may open, but they can close pretty quickly too.

I think we need to do better. What we are seeing is only part of the story. Substance use and crime are part of the story, just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath that, there are other issues. There is distress. There is trauma and there are needs that are not being met. If we do not address those issues, we will not solve the root of the problem. We need to intervene early. Intervening early is not about leniency. It is about effectiveness. Prevention means preventing problems from recurring. It means avoiding situations that could escalate and preventing lives from going off track.

Yes, the legal system can sometimes become a tipping point, but why wait until that happens? Why is the government waiting for things to fall apart before taking action?

No young person, in my opinion, chooses to suffer. I think these actions are signals. They are attempts to cope, attempts that may be clumsy and even dangerous at times, but they are attempts nonetheless. I believe our role is to provide the best possible response. There are people involved in this work on a daily basis. As parliamentarians, we do not know everything. We are not experts on every aspect of society. We therefore need to rely on key experts.

I had the opportunity turn to Geneviève Labbé, a psychoeducator. She is in charge of clinical addiction education, but more importantly, she has 20 years of experience. That means 20 years of guiding young people, 20 years of supporting families and 20 years of seeing what works and what does not work. My entire speech is based on my conversations with her. She reminded me of something extremely important: For every young person, there is a young person not doing well, who has needs and who needs support. Often, it is a young person who can still be helped.

Today, the bill is giving us an opportunity to do things differently. It may not be perfect, but it will be different. We have a choice to act consistently, more humanly and more effectively. Essentially, the question is simple: Do we act while there is still time, or do we keep waiting until it is too late? Helping a young person today does not just solve a problem, it changes a trajectory. I think that changing a trajectory is vitally important.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for Mégantic—L'Érable—Lotbinière has five minutes for his right of reply.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank all my colleagues who have spoken about Bill C-231.

Honestly, it warms my heart to see that MPs here in the House are able to take such a common-sense approach to a difficult bill. The discussions have been taking young people into account and taking resources into account as well. So many people have had personal experience with this. That is what I have observed since I first spoke about this bill. So many people have had experiences with young people who have struggled with addiction that it has opened my eyes and allowed me to say that we are on the right track.

I am not alone in this. My wife, Caro, my daughters, Marie-Soleil and Justine, our grandchildren and all our loved ones are in it with me. Caro recently had the opportunity to appear on a one-hour podcast where she talked about her experience. It was a Fondation VIVERE podcast. Since, unlike her, I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak here, I want to tell people to go and listen to that podcast if they have some free time. They will see the other side of the story, that of a mother who is also going through these hard times. I want to thank Caro for her support and, as she said in the podcast, we are looking forward now, even though it is hard.

If we manage to save even one young person through all of these efforts that we are making, then we will be happy. We will have accomplished something all together. The goal is to save as many young people as possible, but as long as we save the life of even one young person and give them a future, then we will know that we made the right decision and that we did our jobs as parliamentarians by improving laws to help people.

I want to thank the Bloc Québécois members from Laurentides—Labelle, Abitibi—Témiscamingue and Rivière‑du‑Nord. I also want to thank the member for South Shore—St. Margarets, the member for Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation and the member for Compton—Stanstead who spoke today. I want to thank my Conservative colleagues, including the member for Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford and the member for Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, who, by the way, shared an account about her own family today for the first time since she has been a member of Parliament. Although she is our party's critic for addictions, she never shared that story. That is the goal. We need to talk about it, break the secrecy and ensure we understand the issues, that we talk about them and that we find solutions together. I also want to thank my colleague, the member for Montmorency—Charlevoix, who is a strong believer in prevention.

As a society, we have to do more to stop young people from ending up where so many end up today. Once they are in the system, we need to help them get out. That is what Bill C-231, the friends of David act, is all about. The bill is called that for a reason. There are thousands of young people in Canada, like David, who will one day face the justice system because their lives have been literally consumed by drugs. Whether by choice or because of the influence of their peers, not everyone will react the same way, unfortunately. Some will remain in control of their drug use, while others, unfortunately, will become controlled by it. When addiction takes over, sadly, the downward spiral happens fast.

How can a minor pay for what they consume when they are underage and have no income, no wages? Obviously, they will do so by committing crimes. This becomes a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. Bill C-231, in its current form, is a step in the right direction. I have heard the recommendations for amendments to the bill. It makes perfect sense to me if we can help more young people, while still ensuring that judges focus on treatment.

That is precisely the problem highlighted by the current bill. Judges do not see the word “treatment” explicitly stated in the law. We need to keep the word “treatment” because it needs to become automatic. If police officers decide to take a youth into custody and bring them to a treatment centre, that decision must be made with the youth’s consent, but above all within the framework of a judicial process. Unfortunately, good intentions, as I have experienced myself, are sometimes not enough. It takes a wall. For some adolescents, the justice system is a wall that will help them realize in that moment that they can make a different choice for their lives.

I look forward to hearing the proposals and seeing how we can adapt Bill C-231 in committee.

I would like to thank all my colleagues in the House for the support they have shown so far for Bill C-231. I believe that, together with my wife, Caro, my family, and all my colleagues, we can truly make a difference.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The question is on the motion.

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded division.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

Pursuant to Standing Order 93, the division stands deferred until Wednesday, April 15, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), the House will now proceed to the consideration of Motion No. 15 under Private Members' Business.

The House resumed from April 14 consideration of the motion that Bill C-231, An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-231, under Private Members' Business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #96

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)