Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice.
After he promised on International Women's Day to consider the possibility of criminalizing excision, the Minister of Justice told us yesterday that he does not intend to amend the Criminal Code or to introduce specific provisions to deal with this form of sexual violence.
The minister considers the present provisions on assault to be sufficient. However, many countries, including France and Great Britain, have felt the need to legislate specifically on excision.
Why does the minister refuse to criminalize excision, when by doing so he could send a clear message to those who are guilty of it?