Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Madam, I understand, but I find it rather annoying to hear you say the provinces would be inheriting these bills and this problem. I do not agree. When one is a member of society, one makes choices.
It is my opinion that we need to reform this act. Not all people coming out of prison are hardened criminals. In this case we're talking about a sentence of two years less a day, so people who haven't paid their fines or who have stolen food to be able to eat. These are people who have committed minor infractions, not gangsters or members of the mafia. They shouldn't be thrown back into the street the next morning and not have any support. People who are applying for employment insurance have to communicate each week with an employer in order to try to find a job. This is how we can help people to work and reintegrate society, to be a part of society like anyone else, as Canadians.
If we take away this possibility from them simply because they have been unlucky once or twice, we are also taking away yet another opportunity for them to integrate back into society like anyone else. We are not talking about hardened criminals here. These are not the ones we are defending. We are talking about people, men or women, who have simply been unlucky.
You claim that when they come out of prison, they will become welfare recipients and that provinces will have to foot the bill, but I don't agree. We've created a certain society and we want to rehabilitate these people so they have a chance to build a better life. The way that you've explained your point of view is cause for some concern.
Could you please tell me, madam, how you would apply this law.