Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My thanks to my colleagues for their comments on my subamendment.
I believe that Mr. Garrison and Mr. Easter have summarized the intent of the subamendment very well, specifically in terms of the testimony we have heard from the officials of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers.
Mr. Easter reminded us of what we were told about incidents that have happened during escorted temporary absences. According to the sponsor of the bill, the main intent is to protect victims. We must also consider our correctional officers who have become victims themselves during these incidents.
I am disappointed that the government seems to want to vote against this subamendment. As members of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, we are all trying to have the best bills possible in order to guarantee the safety of the public and of correctional officers. We have to respond to the concerns of those officers when bills as important as this one affect the lives of people who work in federal penitentiaries. We have to listen to their concerns and have the best bill possible. That was the intent of this subamendment.
I will leave it in the hands of the committee.