I would say that it's a numbers issue. The number of mentally ill people who have committed serious crimes is probably quite large in Canada. If that were to happen, the courts we have at the moment would be absolutely swamped tomorrow, and they wouldn't be doing the job they're now doing to divert the minor offender who has a mental illness. It's not that we don't need improved services to assess and refer people with a serious offence; it's that the mental health courts, as they exist now, would be swamped.
On December 10th, 2009. See this statement in context.