Evidence of meeting #17 for Justice and Human Rights in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was youth.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
The same thing applies everywhere in Canada, I imagine. If it isn't counted in Quebec, then it isn't counted elsewhere either.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
I don't know. I'm asking you the question. I'm getting to the important question.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
Right.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
In the "General Social Survey on Victimization", we learn from Statistics Canada that most police systems or organizations that deal with offenders, adults or minors, do not make all the reports they are required to make under the law.
According to the "General Social Survey on Victimization", only 34% of cases involving victims are reported. So 66% are missing. Do the statistics for Quebec include that missing 66%?
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
I can't answer that question.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Is that because you don't know or is it because you don't have it.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
I don't have it.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
In fact, I don't know how the statistics are made. I know they come from Statistics Canada and I imagine it is the same thing everywhere.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
When you state an opinion about the fact that there is a difference between the system in Quebec and the system in Canada, what statistics are you using?
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
I base it on Juristat. I have a version that dates from 2006 and that states that the crime rate in Quebec per 100,000 population is approximately a quarter of the province with the highest rate. I base it on that, it comes from Statistics Canada.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
If I understand correctly, that is the same document as I have. That document is called "Youth court statistics, 2006/2007". That may be what you have in hand, which is based on Statistics Canada's uniform crime reports.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
Probably.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Thank you.
As well, could you go to clause 21 of the act? You have it in front of you?
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
I have it in front of me, yes.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
I'm talking about clause 21 which is amended.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
So this is Bill C-4.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Yes, I'm talking about Bill C-4 and clause 21.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
We are not talking about the act.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
It says, and I quote: "No young person who is under the age of 18 years is to serve any portion of the imprisonment in a provincial correctional facility for adults or a penitentiary."
You understand what that sentence means.
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
I understand very well.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Has there ever been a person in Quebec under the age of 18 years who has gone to a provincial prison or a penitentiary? To your knowledge, has there been?
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
I may have happened, but if it is the case, there have really been very few. It depends on how many years you want to go back. I could go back 30 years. I have seen minors, but there were very few, perhaps four or five, sum total.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
That was in Quebec. Are you certain of that?
12:35 p.m.
Director, Special services and Services to Young Offenders, Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Association des centres jeunesse du Québec
I am fairly sure.