Mr. Chair, members of the committee, on behalf of Parent-Secours du Québec, thank you for having me here today.
My name is Pierre Chalifoux. I am the general manager of Parent-Secours du Québec, which advocates for the same rights and values as its counterpart in Canada, Block Parent Program of Canada.
I completely agree with the new bill, because we have to deal with the following points, the most important points in this Youth Criminal Justice Act: protecting the public by holding young persons accountable, promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of young persons who have committed offences, and supporting the prevention of crime by referring young persons to programs or agencies in the community.
If we take the example of Parent-Secours du Québec, in doing our background checks, we have to check all family members aged 12 and over living at the same address before issuing a window sign, to prove that the home is safe and suitable for people in distress to go to so they are safe.
For that reason, and to dispel any doubt when a good conduct certificate is issued, it is crucial, both for Parent-Secours du Québec and for any organization that applies for one, to get an accurate and true picture of any young person. Before informing the public that a young person, whether or not they have become an adult, is beyond reproach, that they have no record of violence or assault and are fit to work with children or the elderly in centres or institutions, we have to have more than the "young offender" notation in their record when the checks are done, we also have to have specific information about their criminal record. That way, we will be in a better position to assess the risks associated with young persons who have committed offences.
We therefore believe that the youth criminal justice system must systematically inform applicants about any crime committed by the accused, regardless of age and what the charge was.
To conclude, I leave it to the committee to decide on the sentences applicable to offences. For the safety of the public, I only hope we will be given a better picture of any young person when background checks are done.