I'm encouraged, Monsieur Jacob. I think you said that you support the bill and you support a balanced approach, and about a minute or so later you said you're open to the bill. I hope that's not changed and that you will continue to support the bill. I think that's very important, for the reasons you've enumerated with respect to the interests of victims. This would be good. I hope you work on your colleagues in the Liberal Party, as well, and speak to them about perhaps getting together and unanimously moving forward on this. That would be very encouraging for everyone who worries about victims in this country.
You talked about some of the monetary issues. This is one of the reasons I have been such a supporter of the victims fund and the tens of millions of dollars that the government has put into it. We've funded many groups and individuals. We've better assisted people who have been victimized. I tell people that the money we have put toward these issues is taxpayers' money well spent.
Mr. Chairman, you know that I'm a big fan and a big supporter of child advocacy centres, which are to provide for children who are victims of crime. Again, all those people who find themselves victimized, I think should agree with me that there's much better support at the federal level for them, on a number of different levels.
As I pointed out to Mr. Casey, this is not in any way to diminish the huge responsibility that the provinces have with respect to health care. Indeed, that is their constitutional responsibility. But I always say that we have a responsibility as well. When you have a look at estimates and you see things for the victims fund, you don't even have to ask. You know I'm a big supporter of that because I think these things are appropriate.
Again, getting back to your initial comments, I would certainly hope that this bill moves through expeditiously. I hope all the opposition members stand up and say they're going to support victims in this country and that they're going to move forward on this important, and at the same time very reasonable, legislation. Certainly I look forward to your support.