Evidence of meeting #53 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 data.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
That's the only question. Thank you for the clarification.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
I realize that from that perspective it's different. As we have discussed, there will be an increased cost to the taxpayer flowing from the provisions we're studying in Bill C-4, and I wanted to see the comparison.
Director, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada
That information refers to adult criminal courts. I don't have information in front of me for youth courts, which would inform the discussion of this bill. It is also the most serious sentence for “other sexual offences”, not for “all sexual offences”. “Other sexual offences” would include things like sexual interference, sexual touching, sexual exploitation, and luring a child through the Internet. There are a number of things included in there.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
These are the types of things we're talking about in Bill C-4.
Director, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada
Exactly. For adult criminal courts, there has been an increase in the custodial sentence as the most serious sentence for “other sexual offences”. I would not be able to comment on the cost of that custodial sentence.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Were the projected costs of that legislation provided to this committee at the time the legislation was introduced in Parliament?
Director, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada
I do not know.
Conservative
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
I have information from a 2006 youth crime rate publication. It seems to say that in 2006 both the number and rate of youth aged 12 to 17 years accused of homicide reached their highest point since data was first collected in 1961. I would like to request information regarding the number and rate of youth aged 12 to 17 years accused of homicide in 1961, 2006, and at present, so I can compare them. Maybe I should include 1997, because the information I have suggests that the youth homicide rate rose 41% between 1997 and 2006. That will allow me to track it.
The information I have suggests that the violent crime rate among youth rose 12% between 1997 and 2006, and 30% since 1991. I wonder if I could get the violent crime rate for 1991, 1997, 2006, and today, so I can see if we're anywhere near getting back down to the 1991 level in violent crime.
Director, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada
Certainly, we'd be able to provide you with that information. I would refer you to page 33 of the Juristat article on police-reported crime statistics in Canada. Table 7b looks at overall police-reported crime from 1999 onwards. We would happily provide you with the information for the homicide rate. We will also provide you with the information on violent crime, and along with that we will provide you with the definition of violent crime, as it may have changed over time, given new introductions to the Criminal Code.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Fast
Thank you, and my thanks to our witnesses for coming. We will have you back, I'm sure.
We stand adjourned.