I'm just wondering if I could say something very briefly on deterrence. Nobody wants these crimes to happen in the first place. That is the truth. General deterrence, to me, helps protect the general population from committing a crime similar to the one.... To me, if the ultimate goal of good sentencing is to reduce crime, then the general deterrence component of sentencing is most effective because it focuses on all of our society. That's why I believe it's so important that first-time offenders have a mandatory sentence because it reflects to everyone that it's taken seriously.
Just one more quick thing. I know we're pushed for time. I think it's unlikely that a five-year or a four-year mandatory minimum sentence for impaired driving causing death would be challenged under section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, because I don't believe that this sentence would be considered too excessive, too stringent, or unnecessarily cruel for vehicular homicide or manslaughter. It would be commensurate with other mandatory minimum sentences given for similar violent crimes.
I just had to get that out.