Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I would like to thank the witnesses for being here this morning. Their presence is very useful to us.
This is the first time I have studied Bill C-10 and its various components. As with my colleague Jack Harris, I find it is unfortunate to have to cut you off halfway through a sentence. I would love to ask you so many questions.
Ms. Rosenfeldt and Ms. O'Sullivan, I appreciate the work you do. I believe that taking care of victims is a very important component in the criminal justice system. We would not want anyone to think that the people sitting on this side of the room do not care about victims.
We are trying to find the best system possible, one which strikes a balance, that is, which respects victims' rights, which also protects people—as indicated in the title of this bill—and makes sure that people who commit crimes have a chance to redeem themselves and become part of society again, if at all possible, as good citizens. It is not always easy to strike a balance in this type of situation. Nothing is black and white.
I would now like to address Professor Doob. One of my basic fears concerning this bill relates to minimum mandatory sentences. Professor, I am familiar enough with the system to realize that, sometimes, we want to avoid a certain result which everybody thinks is completely unthinkable, since it does not apply to the case they are involved with. When I studied criminal law, we were taught that every case was unique. But here, the opposite seems to be true, namely that a sentence is handed down regardless of the offence that was committed.
I would like to know what you think about this. Is discretion being passed from judges to crown prosecutors, who will have to decide under which section an indictment will be laid against a person, given that they already see what sentence will be handed down regardless of the circumstances? These indictments might therefore not be completely justified. So is this not a transfer of discretion, which now lies with the judge, to crown prosecutors? What is your view on this matter?
I now have a question for the representatives of the Canadian Bar, whom I would like to congratulate. Last evening, I read your brief from start to finish, and I would encourage my colleagues to do the same. It is complete. You have done an extremely in-depth analysis. I would like you to talk about the problem with the provision dealing with pardons.
Even in the case of a summary conviction offence, a person would have to wait even longer before applying for a pardon. I don't know whether this is the right way to reach the objective. This would prevent people from finding work again and becoming good citizens again. How are we going to make our streets safer if we make it more difficult for people who might not necessarily have committed a serious offence, to reintegrate society?
Those are my two questions.