Madam Speaker, I will try to be as straightforward and frank in answering questions as possible. I will try not to duck them or dodge them.
I would like the hon. member to make specific reference to the reports and surveys that have been done. I spent 14 years as a law enforcement officer and we looked at all sorts of plans and programs in the area of prevention. I support any program that will successfully provide results in the area of prevention.
I know that the Young Offenders Act was designed to do that. I know that some of these other measures were designed to do that. However, I would advise the hon. member that mercy does not rob justice. When very serious acts are committed against individuals which denies them freedom to move and takes their lives in many cases, then there must be an appropriate penalty. If through our desire and feelings for mercy we create a justice system that is not going to hold an individual accountable for his or her acts, then do not expect the system to prevent crimes of that nature as a result of the sentence that is imposed. That simply will not work.
If we do not to enforce the law in areas where there is law, if we do not amend those areas that do not hold people accountable for their actions such as in the area of the Young Offenders Act and I refer specifically to 10 year-olds, all the preventive programs in the world are going to fail. We have tried many of them.
I hope my answer satisfies the hon. member.