Justice Committee on Nov. 27th, 2006

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

You're not answering my question. You're a man who believes in rehabilitation, and I know that.

[Tony Cannavino]

Yes.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

I don't see you at all as a person who doesn't believe in that.

[Tony Cannavino]

No, I don't doubt it.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

I know you believe in it. We're going to take the information, and we're going to pass laws on the basis of the information that's in the least conclusive. Have you had any knowledge of scientific studies, conducted not by pressure groups, but by...

[Tony Cannavino]

We've had presentations, such as that of Mr. Plecas. He came to submit a study report on the impact of sentences on crime and the correlation between sentences and crime. Dr. Plecas has made some presentations to us.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

I don't know him. Do you think I could meet him?

[Tony Cannavino]

With great pleasure. We could give you his contact information. It's a quite eloquent study on crime over the past I don't know how many decades.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Where is he from, this gentleman?

[Tony Cannavino]

From the west. He's a professor from the west, and we'll give you his contact information. It will be a pleasure for us to forward it to you. He also explains the importance of this approach. Moreover, in the context of certain discussions, we've realized that the problem, when you don't have major deterrents, such as strict minimum sentences, is that you wind up with a reoffender who will continue to offend. He'll get out, he'll exploit all the loopholes in the system to get back onto the street and commit new crimes, because he knows that the sentence is trivial, that he won't spend a lot of time behind bars.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

I'd like to understand your recommendation exactly. If I understand correctly, you're saying that Bill C-10 in its present form provides, for the offences you list on page 8, that, in the case of indictable offences committed with restricted weapons or for a gang, the system of escalating penalties applies. However, in cases where those two conditions aren't met, you're talking about a four-year sentence. You would like the new system of offences to apply in all cases where a firearm is used.

[Tony Cannavino]

Absolutely. Moreover, Mr. Stuesser also noted the point. In the case of a gun crime, we shouldn't consider the type of weapon or whether the person belongs to a criminal organization. We're talking about violent crimes, but also about violent criminals.

In another act, there are already provisions concerning membership in a criminal organization. That's considered an aggravating factor. In the context of Bill C-10, we're talking about a person who commits a crime using a firearm and who also belongs to a criminal organization.

In our view, a person who commits a crime using a firearm, regardless of which one, should be subject—

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

To the new system.

[Tony Cannavino]

That's correct.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Do I have the time to ask another question, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Be very quick.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Have you heard about the professor cited by Mr. Cannavino? Are you familiar with the study in question? I'm asking you the question since you're both academics.

[Prof. Paul Chartrand]

I didn't get the name. I'm a little hard of hearing.

[Tony Cannavino]

It's Dr. Darryl Plecas.

[Prof. Paul Chartrand]

I've not heard of him.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

The fact that we don't know him takes nothing away from his talent. That doesn't mean he isn't competent.

[David Griffin]

He was a witness on Bill C-9.

[Tony Cannavino]

I'm told he was a witness in the study of Bill C-9.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

That doesn't ring a bell.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

He may have been invited, but I don't believe he attended.