First of all, my apologies for being late. I did my utmost, but after question period, I had to meet with reporters who were intent upon obtaining explanations about what took place yesterday evening in committee, as well as with people who worked on the issue.
I would also like to emphasize that I saw this information for the first time here. Even if I had had knowledge of it earlier, it would nevertheless be impossible to have a good understanding of the meaning of these statistics. I do however attach a tremendous importance to them. I am familiar with Statistics Canada and I am convinced that it is one of the best organizations in the world, overall. I often read the publications it puts out.
However, statistics such as these do not read out in the way you have just read them out. One must study them; otherwise, one only retains a few aspects. I had asked that we be provided with this document a little bit ahead of time. I do not know when it was provided, but I believe that my assistant received it yesterday, whereas I sat in committee until 10:30 p.m. Therefore, when we ask you to forward documentation within a certain timeframe, I would be grateful if this could be done a little sooner.
I do not see how this will assist me with the votes that we are going to have this very afternoon, and it is very unfortunate.
Defence lawyers have told us, during the course of our hearings, that the courts had established, as a matter of principle in cases of sexual offences against children, that the rule would be jail time. My impression is that this is not what is reflected in your statistics.
Could you enlighten my in this regard?
