Madam Speaker, once again it is an honour to rise in the House pursuant to Standing Order 36 to present a petition on the Young Offenders Act concerning a private member's bill presented by the member for York South and seconded by the hon. member for Leeds-Grenville.
I had the privilege this morning on CBC "Newsworld" to debate the Young Offenders Act with the hon. member for Saskatoon-Clark's Crossing.
The petition from constituents of my riding states that crimes committed on society by young offenders are on a serious up rise and young offenders go virtually unpunished due to protection under the Young Offenders Act. They lack respect for the law and fellow citizens. There is no remorse or shame on the part of the young offender.
Therefore the undersigned your petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to review and revise their laws concerning young offenders, empowering the courts to prosecute and punish the young lawbreakers who are terrorizing our society by releasing their names and lowering the age limit to allow prosecution to meet with the severity of the crime.