It has been that way for a long time. It is also a constitutional matter. Many of these factors are common to the Barreau du Québec and to other law societies in Canada. It must be said that we acknowledge that our system of justice is complex and expensive. We are always trying to improve ourselves in that respect. However, something we do very well in Canada is to have an impartial and independent judiciary.
As for minimum sentences, judges must be given the discretion to impose penalties that are not minimums, penalties that deliver justice and that help the accused with rehabilitation. Judges have that subtle knowledge of the cases. This is the proportionality of sentencing. Judges are in a better position to apply the principle because they hear cases every day. They are very experienced in the area. In general, Canada and Quebec have great statistics on the matter.
It is very good to try to improve our justice system, which, again, I describe as complex and expensive. There have been some great plans along those lines. That said, the one thing that we do very well throughout our entire justice system is to make sure that the judiciary is independent and impartial.
That is one of the reasons why we use those words.