The statistics we have from 2009 are that there are approximately 7,900 reports of abuse of seniors in this country. It's interesting, the breakdown you get on this. Approximately a third of the abuse was committed, or was alleged to have been committed, by family members. About another third was by a friend or a friend of the family. Another third was by strangers. From my discussions with victims groups, law enforcement agents, and people involved in this area, it's growing, and it will continue to grow. The statistics alone tell us that. With the increase in the seniors population in Canada, this is going to be more of a challenge.
Men and women are victimized in approximately equal numbers in a number of the categories. That being said, there is a greater awareness of it, which is one of the positive things about this. People are talking about it more. I have appreciated and certainly support government efforts to advertise this to make sure that funds are getting out so that there is a greater awareness of this particular challenge.
Again, 20 or 30 years ago, people would think that if you were a victim of crime...many times you'd think of it as being a stranger or somebody breaking into your house and that sort of thing. Well, very often these are people who may be in very close contact with you. That being said, I have heard of many instances of strangers targeting elderly people and taking advantage of people who they hear are having difficulty.
One of the initiatives I was here about before, as you know, was on white collar crime. We made specific reference that it is one of the aggravating factors there. If the individual is an older person, the effect of losing that money can be devastating, as you know, to somebody who may or may not lose his or her life savings.
Again, it's a growing problem, from everything I hear. Statistically, they tell us that with the increase in the seniors population, this is a continuing concern. This is why I think, at this time, it's appropriate to put this in and specifically recognize it in the Criminal Code as one of the aggravating terms.