I have the same challenges when I speak to the victims I deal with, but I will deal with the issue of proximity, and that's what we're talking about when offenders are released back into a community. As I've indicated, in the last fiscal year alone, we've had 10 complaints with regard to this.
Obviously, that's hugely devastating, and it's not just.... As I said in my opening comments, it's very reflective of the fact that this impact goes beyond the victim. It goes to their family and could go to other members close to them as well. That's the impact of this.
I think what's important about the bill before us is that it makes it so that the decision-makers must consider the victim's safety. It's not discretionary; they have to consider it. It leaves the flexibility in there if a victim in fact wants to look at different restorative measures.
I think you've hit on something that's really important here. We need to start ensuring that the legislation considers victims' input, that their needs are considered in relation to these decisions that are being made, and that they have the information as to why these decisions are made, when they are made, and what are the reasons behind them.