Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I want to thank both of our witnesses for their testimony here today.
I'd like to direct some of my questions to Mrs. Rosenfeldt. Thank you very much for being here today. In a previous appearance before this committee, you said the following:
It is worrisome that so many people have focused on the cost of crime, particularly as it relates to offenders and prisons, without considering the cost that crime has on victims. The cost of violent and serious crime not only consists of taxpayers' dollars but the loss of human life, of family, loss of law and order, and loss of faith in the criminal justice system.
Especially on that last note, I could not agree with you more. It seems that many people, including those who oppose the bill, have forgotten or have chosen to ignore the fact that crime has significant costs to victims. For this reason, it is our belief on the government side that victim services are extremely important and need to ensure the well-being of law-abiding Canadians who, unfortunately, have been victimized as the result of the unlawful behaviour of another individual.
By increasing the victim surcharges and making them mandatory in all cases, this legislation will ensure that more money will be sent to the provinces to increase the important services to victims across the country. Do you think this increase of funding through victim services will be well received by the provinces and the organizations on the ground?