Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.
First, I should clear up that I was talking about statistically significant; that there has been no statistically significant increase in violent crime for youth. I would not like to leave the member's impression as what he sees as fact to be true.
I am quite encouraged to hear of the background of the hon. member. I too have spent time with young offenders as a member of our Edmonton police services and as a member of our city council which developed over a two-year period of time the safer cities initiatives which dealt extensively with crime prevention.
We have always believed in Edmonton that there needs to be that balance. Yes, there need to be consequences for the acts of violence and offences against people and property. That is what we have made very clear here that we are willing to do by increasing the length of sentencing in the bill that members will see coming forward.
When we talk about what we can do for youth, we can be sure that they have the kinds of rehabilitative programs that will erase the fear that the member has talked about. That is quite a heart-rending story about a young person who is in essence afraid to leave a jail because he is in fear of reoffending.
I would think that with someone who felt that way with a good rehabilitative program there would be little risk of reoffending because he sounded like he cared and wanted to take advantage of a program like that.
We need a balanced approach. I am heartened to hear the interest of the hon. member in rehabilitative programs and in dealing with preventing crime.