Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I want to thank our witnesses for appearing before us today.
You mentioned on several occasions today, Minister, that gangs, and in particular gang leaders, know the law. Clearly there are laws today that are rather punitive for those participating in criminal acts, and the kinds of acts you would expect the gangs would participate in.
I know during the second reading of this debate the sponsor of this bill, MP Parm Gill, indicated the purpose of his bill is to address specifically the issue of young people being targeted and recruited by gangs, and criminal gangs obviously. When you speak of gangs in this context, it's criminal gangs we're talking about, as we can well appreciate. He noted youth are being recruited by some of Canada's most notorious and violent criminal organizations because of their age and vulnerability.
From the discussion we've heard today, and from some of the questions and answers going back and forth in your presentations, we're really talking about an extra tool in the tool chest for law enforcement here.
Do you think the proposed offences focused on the recruitment of young people, particularly through the imposition of the mandatory minimum penalty, would clearly denounce such conduct? I'm interested to see if you feel this would reflect Parliament's intent to protect children and other vulnerable persons from the threats imposed by organized crime.