I wouldn't say that it has an impact on what decisions are made in a bail court, one, because it's different considerations that are being taken, that are being looked at, at the sentencing phase. We're talking about proportionality. We're talking about just deserts. What is a proportionate sentence?
That's what we're taking into consideration: the gravity of the offence, the moral blameworthiness of the offender. We're taking that into consideration.
You raised a point around the communicative dimension of a sentence. What message is it sending to the public? Is it saying that this particular offence or behaviour is not serious if a mandatory minimum is not attached to it?
What I'm suggesting to you is that our courts are well positioned to send a message, whether it's a message of the terms or denunciation, to attach a penalty that articulates society's abhorrence of a particular conduct. Our courts are well positioned to do that. I don't think our courts have been handing down lenient sentences that send a message to prospective criminals that they can commit crimes with impunity. I don't think that's what's happening with the removal of mandatory minimum sentences.