Thank you very much for your explanation as to what happened yesterday morning. I appreciate that, Minister.
I have a few questions. In terms of youth justice, page 15 of the Report on Plans and Priorities indicates that your department will develop options to strengthen the Youth Criminal Justice Act. I would like to know first off what the term "strengthen" means. This is new legislation. I think it has been in effect for only three years. Generally, if you are preparing legislative reform options for new legislation, it is because you've noted some shortcomings, aspects which could, in your view, stand to be improved. What weaknesses do you see in the YCJA that need to be remedied? Is the number of crimes being committed by young people on the rise in Canada? If so, by how much, and what types of crimes are being committed? Violent crimes, property crimes, etc.?
My second set of questions has to do with access to justice. We have set up a legal aid system, as have the provinces, to help Canadians who do not have the means to be represented before the courts, criminal courts but also civil and administrative tribunals. We know that there is an increasing number of unrepresented accused and litigants in our courts.
Statements in the Report on Plans and Priorities seem contradictory. On page 33 we see the contributions respecting legal aid total $44.5 million in 2006-2007 whereas page 36 of the report indicates that the contribution to the provinces to assist in the operation of legal aid systems will decrease by $30 million in 2006-2007. Moreover, page 37 indicates that $40 million will be spent in 2007-2008. Can you clarify how much the federal government will spend on legal aid in 2007-2008, including transfers or contributions to the provinces for the operation of their legal aid system? Is this an increase or a decrease over previous years? Thank you.