And quickly, Manitoba.
Evidence of meeting #9 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 gang.
Evidence of meeting #9 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 gang.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Cst Nick Leone
We also work with the Department of Justice. Once they officially become witnesses, the Department of Justice foots their bill for their relocation, any movement or anything like that.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Fast
Thank you. We're at the end of our time.
I'll ask Chief Weighill one last question.
The testimony you gave in your initial statement seemed to indicate you weren't in favour of any tougher sanctions against gang members, organized crime members. You put a lot of emphasis on the provision of resources for the social services that would allow young offenders, the ones who have been integrated into the low-level gangs, to get out or prevent them from getting in because we'd provide alternatives.
Is that a correct reflection of the impression you left? Or would you support tougher targeted sentences against the high-level gang members provided sufficient resources were applied to the entry level?
3:55 p.m.
Chief of Police, Saskatoon Police Service
I support some stricter measures. There's no doubt about that. The point I was trying to make earlier is that the social contributors are driving a lot of this, and as a society, we have to spend some resources on this.
There's no doubt that some criminals need these interventions. We need some stricter penalties for those who are involved in the trade already. My hope is that in the future we can restrict many people from getting involved in gangs. But there's no doubt that we do need strict measures for some of these gang members who are already in gangs. We have to react to it now, and we have to take measures.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Fast
We've heard from panel after panel that we have to learn how to distinguish between those who need tougher sentences and those who need guidance early on in their lives, who need to be given opportunities in order to avoid a lifetime of crime. So thank you for all of that.
Thank you to all of our witnesses. In the next couple of months we'll likely produce a report, which I hope will include numerous recommendations on how Canada can move forward in terms of fighting organized crime.
Again, thank you to all of you.
The meeting is adjourned.