Thank you, Mr. Chair and thank you to our guests, some of whom are back for another time.
I'll ask Mr. Rico-Martinez a couple of questions first. You've said we need to rethink this bill specifically because of young, visible minority residents; I believe I wrote that down correctly. You seem to be indicating there's an imbalance in our federal penitentiary system. I'm wondering whether you're making excuses for people who commit crime. When you say that we need to rethink it because of a specific group, I have a bit of a problem with that because you said they have few choices of where they can do homework, maybe their language or cultures are different, maybe their skin colour is different.
I simply want to let you know that I know lots of people who fit those categories, but they do not commit serious crimes. I'm wondering why you substantiate your viewpoints based on those specific things and why you're against this bill. That's the problem I have with your statements.
I'm wondering whether you're making excuses for people who commit crimes and why you think we need to make excuses for people who commit crimes because, again, lots of people who fit those descriptions have few choices, to do homework, maybe come from a background where they're not wealthy and have language or cultural differences.