I won't be talking about statistics. If you want to talk about statistics, there's one thing I can do. Our front line police officers deal with victims and deal with citizens in their communities, and when they say they're not safe, they're not safe. When you talk about 30% being repeat offenders, statistics include everything, all kinds of crimes.
In 1996 the intention was good for minor offences; for exceptions, you would have the conditional sentencing. It's not what happened. It became the norm. It did not become the exception; that's what the courts gave. The exception was the one who would go to jail. Listen, that wasn't the intent of this legislation in 1996. What we see more and more is the fact that young kids.... We're always asking, why do they get lured and join gangs? It is because the first thing the leaders tell them is that there will be no consequences if they do a break and entry, or if they steal a car; not to worry, they will not go to jail for that. So they trivialize all those crimes. That's why we always see them back on the street.
What happens then? You have communities wondering what's going on, and you see more and more kids getting together and joining street gangs.