I don't think there's any question about it, Mr. Norlock. I've heard it on a regular basis from victims' groups, victims, and individuals. I've seen it in editorials and I've heard it at round tables on crime. The people have great problems with this particular policy and they want it changed.
You mentioned a number of our provincial counterparts. I'm saying that there's as close to unanimity as you can get when you're dealing with that many people. This is a problem for them and they have urged us to come forward and make changes. We were pleased to do that.
It's interesting that on the day we announced this, we had four or five attorneys generals across Canada, I think, who wanted to be there with us when we made that announcement. That is how supportive they are. I mentioned in the earlier debate that Attorney General Wally Oppal of British Columbia was very pleased to stand with me when we made this announcement, because it is important. It is important to the attorneys general in their efforts to try to unclog the court system.
We talked about access to justice. If you're clogging up the courts with people who are continuously getting remands because, among other things, they are getting a bonus in their time served, we have to do something about it. As I indicated to you, if they are convicted and get into an institution, then you have the opportunity to provide them with programs to help them become rehabilitated so that they're not spending their time doing dead time and not getting the help they need.
Yes, I received quite a bit of favourable feedback on this. Again, I'm hoping that this is another one of these measures in our tough-on-crime agenda that your committee will move forward on. I encourage you and indeed all members to do that.