Well, I would suggest there would be no increase in that respect, because if somebody is going to be going to a mandatory minimum prison sentence of four years, in any event, let's say as a result of the old law, that wouldn't change if the mandatory minimum is now five years. So I don't see the proposition of four-year mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun crimes--which your party supported during the election--increasing the legal aid budget in any way. In those kinds of offences, whether it was a mandatory four years, five years, seven years, or ten years, all of those individuals would be eligible for legal aid. And I'd point out that the former Minister of Justice, Irwin Cotler, was supportive of mandatory minimum prison sentences during the election as well.
On November 7th, 2006. See this statement in context.