We have seen how this works at the very high end of the Criminal Code, with respect to first-degree murders. Most recently, there was the tragic shooting death of members of the RCMP in Moncton. That was an example of consecutive sentences. To be clear, that means stacking one sentence on top of the other. They're not to be served concurrently, but one after the other, to denote that a separate crime was committed against an individual in each and every case.
The same is certainly true of sexual offences against children. The parameters around this are curtailed, and rightly so in some cases, by this long-standing application of proportionality. It is very difficult for a victim or a victim's family member to hear that the sentence isn't individually recognized in the penalty that a judge is meting out. Consecutive sentences do that. Consecutive sentences put particular emphasis on each individual crime, each act of violence, sexual violence against a child, which we believe is deserving of a consecutive sentence. That is what we are attempting to achieve through this legislation. We believe it's appropriate given the abhorrent nature of this type of crime, the damage that is done, and the loss of innocence, as my friend Minister Blaney has said.
This is very important, in our view, to demonstrate to the public and to offenders the seriousness with which the justice system will respond to this type of heinous crime.