Mr. Chair, I would move that Bill C-31 in clause 23 be amended by replacing line 31 on page 12 with the following:
and who is 18 years of age or older on the day
To briefly explain, Mr. Chairperson, it's in recognition that the bill tends to identify minor age at 16 years, and we're suggesting that it be 18 years. This is an amendment you'll see...there are actually several amendments that deal with increasing the age from 16 years to 18 years.
I'm not too sure where the government stands on that particular issue. I do understand that the New Democratic Party is with us, based on some of the amendments they have also submitted, so it would be great to see a consensus between the three parties in recognition that we increase the age—this would relate to issues such as detention—from 16 years to 18 years.