I'm always prepared to give them, Mr. Keddy.
Thank you very much for your comments, and thank you for being a member of this committee. I appreciate your commitment to the issue of fighting crime in this country.
I think what we're doing is a commendable exercise in our responsibility as legislators. I have sat where you have sat on many occasions with various pieces of legislation, and for the most part throughout the eighties and the nineties we gave guidelines to judges as to the seriousness with which we took the crime. We usually did it in terms of maximum sentences.
I remember on a number of occasions when we revisited certain sections of the Criminal Code and said that the maximum sentence doesn't reflect the seriousness with which society views this type of behaviour. That was a legitimate exercise of our legislative responsibilities. And putting minimum sentences, in my opinion, is also a responsible exercise of our legislative responsibilities.
What we're trying to do is to give some guidance as to the seriousness with which Parliament views some of this activity. You know and I know some of the serious problems that have arisen and can arise in this country with respect to firearms offences and crimes that are committed with firearms. You, as a representative of your constituents from Nova Scotia, know how seriously people take that and how upsetting people find that.
I think it's incumbent upon us to try to draft legislation to take into consideration these legitimate concerns of law-abiding people while at the same recognizing the charter and the rights under the Canadian Bill of Rights of individuals who are accused of a crime. What we are trying to do is strike that reasonable balance. I'm convinced that we are doing that. Again, it's a legitimate exercise and it's why we are sent here and what we are supposed to do.
I think all parliamentarians--and I hope I can say that--when this bill gets passed, can take a lot of pride in getting these pieces of legislation. It's a substantial piece of legislation. As you know, this is the first bill introduced into this session. It's not just a coincidence that it's Bill C-2 and that it's put all together. These are steps in the right direction.
I appreciate your support, and indeed the support of all committee members. Again, I wish you well in your deliberations. I hope this bill gets passed as expeditiously as possible.