I'll start. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. I'm pleased to speak to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs about the costs for cracking down on violent crime. Today I will speak to issues concerning the Department of Public Safety and its portfolio agencies. My colleague, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, will speak to issues pertaining to the Department of Justice.
The potential witnesses here around the table are listed in the witness list. I don't need to introduce each individual, I presume, given that they've already been noted on the docket.
As you are aware, on February 17, 2011, our government tabled a projected cost estimate in response to a motion brought forward by the member for Kings—Hants on December 7, 2010. This estimate was tabled in Parliament. It set out the projected cost of several government bills that address crime, law enforcement, and corrections. It was our belief that this satisfied the information request in the December 7 motion.
The costing tabled on February 17 represented projected costs. It goes without saying that projections are complex and time-consuming exercises. Today, in front of you, is a binder that provides additional information that elaborates on and helps clarify what was presented to the House on February 17. I believe that the information in front of you fully supports and answers the committee's request. It also clearly states whether there are any limitations on the ability of the government to answer any elements of the request, as framed by the motion. In addition, these documents explicitly note and explain any apparent differences between this package and the February 17 tabling. I urge all committee members to review the information laid before you, as it provides clear and accurate details of the legislative costs associated with this government's crime bills.
We all know that crime has a terrible cost for victims, and indeed for all Canadians. This includes costs related to property damage and loss, costs related to lost productivity, as individuals rebuild their lives, and most importantly, costs related to the medical care and support required in response to the physical and mental harm so often done to the victims of crime. These are costs our government believes victims should not have to bear, which is why we have taken such extensive steps to crack down on crime, to prevent it before it happens, to punish it once it has occurred, and to do all we can to ensure that it does not reoccur.
Our government is working hard to keep Canadians safe and to finally put the rights of victims front and centre in our criminal justice system. There may be much we disagree about here today, but I would like to think that we are of one mind on this: a government has no greater responsibility than to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
Since we were first elected in 2006, this government has told Canadians that we would make changes to the Criminal Code that would make sure that violent and repeat offenders would be subject to tougher sentences. We promised to crack down on violent, gun-related crime. We committed to putting more police onto our streets and to working to secure our borders. We have passed legislation targeting gang violence and organized crime by addressing issues such as gang murders, drive-by shootings, and additional protection for police officers.
Our government is a government of action and commitment. That's why we are in fact doing what we said we would do. We know that action has a cost, a cost that we are willing to pay. We are willing to pay it, because the cost to society is so much greater, and not simply as measured in dollars and cents.
In the current session we have introduced ten pieces of legislation that await passage into law, including bills to end the use of accelerated parole review and measures to combat the heinous practice of human smuggling, a crime that threatens our communities as well as Canada's generous immigration system.
Victims and law-abiding Canadians alike have told us that these measures are critically important, and I take this opportunity to again urge opposition members, and those on this committee in particular, to consider not only the figures on the pages in front of you but the overall cost of crime to our society. After all, protecting Canadians by providing a safe and secure society is worth the price.
Thank you.
Following the presentation by my colleague, the Minister of Justice, I would be happy to respond to any questions that members of the committee may have.