We would like to make four main recommendations to the committee today in connection with the part of Bill C-10 that relates to young offenders. We are hoping to see amendments made to four aspects.
The first relates to the amendment to paragraph 3(1)(a) of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The principle of the proportionality of the sentence is introduced as the main principle. We think this is the wrong track. Whether it be for the victim of the offence or for society as a whole, the public is best protected by rehabilitating and reintegrating offenders. Advocating that the proportionality of the sentence take precedence does no service to either offenders or society. Clearly we are opposed to this change.