Mr. Speaker, the change for theft under or over also is a significant change to the available consequences. On the principle of stare decisis the justice minister knows that there is a going tariff for theft under. This is certainly going to change. For the public to get hold of the idea that the common tariff or consequence for theft under is now going to include property up to $5,000 is quite a considerable shock. When I mentioned this recently to some policemen on the street as I was riding with them on their shift they could not believe what Parliament was doing.
I ask the minister to perhaps consult further with the people at the line level and delay the proclamation of this amount.