I am going to continue on amendment NDP-22 concerning clause 43 and drug treatment rehabilitation programs. This is not always the case. One of the problems with these centres is that there are not huge numbers of them. According to the information I have, there are six. I am going to read it in English:
only six drug treatment courts, and access is limited.
This clause deals with very specific cases. These are accused persons who still have a chance of rehabilitation through these treatment programs. I think this is a humane way to look at things. People may not be familiar with Canadian drug treatment courts.
The legislative summary from the Library of Parliament also says:
One of the main goals of the Drug Treatment Court Program is to facilitate the treatment of drug offenders by providing an intensive, court-monitored alternative to incarceration. It is said that drug treatment courts have a more humane approach to addressing minor drug crimes than incarceration.
This is a constant in what we are saying. You have not seen us here trying to reduce the maximum sentences to which people are liable who commit absolutely horrifying offences, some of which Mr. Woodworth listed in his speech a few moments ago about an earlier amendment. No one here would like to see the life sentences reserved for certain cases abolished, or the 14-year sentences reserved for others. That is not the question, those are not at all the cases we are talking about here. We are talking about cases that call for a much more humane approach. Sometimes it is all very well to make passionate speeches, but we also have to be able to put things in perspective.
Once again, I think this is a good amendment, one that would make the legislation better, and that addresses certain objectives that will not be achieved. This may be one way that we could achieve those ends.