Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First of all, thank you to Mr. Goguen for his question, and to each of you for your comments with respect to restorative justice. In this era of minimum mandatory sentences, tough on crime legislation, and multiple changes to the Criminal Code to create new offences, to hear anyone talk about restorative justice on Parliament Hill is refreshing. Thanks to all of you for that.
My question comes back to the last point made by Ms. Palmer, and it was also made by Dr. Fry when she testified.
It's for you, Professor Shariff, although I'd be interested in Professor Craig's comments as well.
Both of them have talked about the fact that this bill is but one tool, and that there is a need for an overall, more comprehensive strategy. Yet, if I understood your testimony correctly, Professor Shariff, you didn't see much value in the bill, if I have it correctly.
I'm asking you specifically to respond to what Ms. Palmer and what Dr. Fry have said, that there's no good reason to delay this particular tool while waiting for something more comprehensive.