Here is another important issue that the proposed amendments do not address that the members of the council wish to bring to the committee members' attention. If it's our objective to improve the youth justice system, we must find ways to stop the criminalization of youth who have mental health issues or cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities in particular. That means strengthening treatment outside the justice system, not increasing incarceration.
In August of this past year, the council of the Canadian Bar Association passed a resolution underscoring how persons suffering from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder live with neurological and behavioural challenges. The Canadian Bar Association called on
all levels of government to allocate additional resources for alternatives to the current practices of criminalizing individuals with FASD.
Our council supports that resolution. We understand that the federal Minister of Justice has embraced that resolution and is looking at ways, in discussion with his counterparts federally and provincially, to achieve that, and we think there is great merit in considering that before proceeding with a matter such as Bill C-4.