Thank you.
Right off the bat, I must tell you that you are right: recruiting by criminal organizations is a genuine Canada-wide, and even worldwide, scourge. Other countries are indeed in the same boat. In fact, given how serious this Canada-wide scourge is, I'm wondering why it's being addressed through a private member's bill as opposed to a government bill.
As part of the NDP's platform, we supported protecting our youth by making street gang recruitment illegal. So we're on the side of victims; we agree with repression. It's a step in the right direction. Like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, who submitted a very insightful brief, by the way, we agree with tougher legislation. But it has to come with sound preventative strategies, such as an affordable housing program, and initiatives that support youth development, restorative justice and mental health. We have to offer these young people a genuine choice between life as a law-abiding citizen, which could allow them to accomplish great things, and life as a gang member, which limits their options to prison and a street gang lifestyle.
From a public safety standpoint, we are in favour of a balanced approach that merges prevention and repression. There is no question that approach would give us more tools, but in order for them to do the job, adequate police and human resources need to be assigned to the streets, in our communities. Prevention and an adequate police presence across the country is the leitmotif. That is one of the solutions.
So here's my first question.
In cases where the offender is convicted of several organized crime offences, is the parole inadmissibility period cumulative?