Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As we mentioned, MADD Canada was very much involved in the discussion and debates around Bill C-9 back in 2007. We brought a message from the families we work with and support, families that had lost a loved one or multiple loved ones: House arrest and conditional sentences were not appropriate for impaired driving causing death.
We have seen sentences increase generally over that time, and I think it's important that the courts have recognized that an essential message needs to be sent in terms of denunciation and deterrence. The idea, however, that we could step back and possibly allow conditional sentences for impaired driving causing death is hurtful and harmful to many of the families we support. They feel it could re-victimize them.