I'd be pleased to, and thank you very much for the opportunity.
In speaking with Mr. Wilks, we see this as just a starting point. In some of the other cases you may have reviewed with the penalties of eight years and so on up to life, those sentences may have included other offences over and above the kidnapping, because as was explained to this committee, so often that kidnapping is for the purpose of sexual assault, rape, or murder.
When I was contacted, I looked at the section of the code and I looked at it in just the perspective of that charge alone—kidnapping alone—and quite frankly I was shocked that there was no established minimum. There was no established minimum sentence. In speaking with Mr. Wilks, I expressed that, and we determined that five years was a start.
As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing on this earth more valuable than a child's precious life.