As Mr. Albas mentioned, the goal of amendment NDP-7 is to change the period from 36 months to 24 months. In our opinion, that is a little more balanced than what is there at the moment.
We understand that it is a problem for those involved to appear at annual hearings and that is why we wanted to amend the current measure. But the 36-month period may seem a little much for some people. Some witnesses have even told us that the 36-month period would put more mentally ill people into the prison system because people might prefer to go to prison rather than going into the system reserved for people found not criminally responsible.
So we are trying to find a better balance. We want a review hearing every 24 months, rather than the proposed 36 months. That is what is presently in the Criminal Code under subsections 672.81(1.1) and 672.81(1.2), a 24-month period at most. We think that is more reasonable.