Evidence of meeting #21 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 public.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Provincial Advocate, Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth (Ontario)
Here is what I've learned from all the years of working with young people. Because it was a very pointed question, I want to say to you that sometimes the young people I worked with and the children I worked with would rather have been dead than to go through what they went through.
While I don't know, when speaking to a parent of somebody who's died—and I can't imagine it, having children myself—I know what it's like to live a torturous life from a young person's point of view.
Provincial Advocate, Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth (Ontario)
I hear you, but I want to answer your question.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Do you have any suggestions? I'd like to hear the suggestions.
Provincial Advocate, Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth (Ontario)
Yes, the solutions and problems are not always connected. You've raised a very important problem, and I think it would be important for this committee to consider that, but perhaps the solution isn't to change the YCJA. There are other solutions you should be considering.
Conservative
Provincial Advocate, Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth (Ontario)
I'm sorry. There are other solutions, such as building our communities, providing resources to parents and families, looking at issues around racialized youth and how they're treated in society.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Fast
Mr. Elman and Mr. Woodworth, unfortunately we're out of time. I'm going to have to adjourn the meeting.
I want to thank Mr. Elman and Ms. Tustin for appearing.
If you have further written submissions to make, please hand them in. Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.