Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I very much appreciate the comments that our colleague Mr. Ménard is making to justify the amendments he is suggesting, but I am not going to be able to support them.
I would like to explain my reasons briefly. First, these minimum sentences would not apply to young offenders. Secondly, in my opinion—and I hope I am accurately reflecting his words—for once, the Conservative government has zeroed in on a problem with surgical precision. Third, the minimum sentence proposed by the bill is quite lenient.
And because of the fact that the government has once more gone to the trouble to establish that it has to be a third conviction for the same offence, I feel that I can support the clause in Bill S-9 as written, with no hesitation or difficulty, and I am comfortable doing so.
I am very comfortable justifying my vote for the clause as written and against the amendments that you are proposing, Mr. Ménard.