Luc, my friend, I am truly sorry.
It's the same for Caroline and Justine. Please accept our sincerest condolences. I'm sure that I speak on behalf of all of my committee colleagues, and I'm sure for all of our House of Commons staff as well, in extending deepest condolences for your loss. Please consider me a friend of David.
Unfortunately, addiction is an issue that transcends politics and socio-economic status. It affects so many of us so profoundly.
If I may share a personal element, about 25 years ago, my group of friends lost a friend. Simon Wood, of Richmond Hill, was unable to cope with his addiction and passed away at the age of 22. I'm grateful for the opportunity to send a shout-out to my boys and say that it's really remarkable that I have the privilege of honouring him today.
Unfortunately, the addiction crisis in Canada is out of control throughout our cities, our suburbs and our small towns and villages. It affects our country so profoundly now. When it comes to addiction, we often try to address every cause of addiction rather than the addiction itself. We talk about addiction vis-à-vis housing, social services and employment, but we never, or rarely, talk about the addiction itself or what helps addiction, which is rehabilitation.
I thank you sincerely, Luc, for bringing this bill before us today and for giving us an opportunity to perhaps save lives. I couldn't think of a more worthwhile thing to do as a member of this committee.
I'll do a bit of work now and run very quickly through what your bill seeks to do.
My understanding is that your bill would allow youth courts, in cases involving offences related to controlled substances or cannabis, to delay sentencing so that a young person can participate in a substance abuse treatment program. It would also allow youth courts to make orders requiring attendance in an addiction treatment program as part of a sentence, but it specifies that failing or refusing to complete such a program cannot in and of itself result in a custodial sentence. Finally, your bill is designed to expand the role of addiction treatment within the Youth Criminal Justice Act, ensuring rehabilitation opportunities for young offenders.
Before I proceed, are there any other key components to the bill that I've missed or that you may wish to address, MP Berthold?