I'll add that I think what this bill is trying to do is be part of the package, and I think it would be problematic if it sat on its own in that package, because what does it say to us about the principles? I think the thing that makes it problematic is this recognition of what I would call a developmental perspective, the meaning of the behaviour to children as they age, and the intention they have when they engage in these behaviours throughout....
My concern is that if we just put this one piece in place, we're putting in a punishment, we're putting in something that can forever affect children's and youths' lives. This bill is not child and youth friendly, in the sense that it doesn't put in the developmental supports they need in order to change and be different, but in fact it's going to put in blocks to their lives' development that are actually going to negatively impact the development.
This bill, in the context of the educative measures to support the children in the context of a developmental perspective that their understanding of intention to harm, their understanding of the behaviour, changes with age, is helpful in the context of providing police with the tools they need to support the youth when they are working so effectively in the communities, when they are looking to identify that behaviour.
I think we need to put it in as one piece of a package, because as it stands alone, it's probably not going to make a huge difference, and in fact it's going to have a negative effect on our youth.