Mr. Speaker, I certainly question the statement, "where Canadians are coming from". I believe the motion today represents a nation's outcry of dissatisfaction with the Young Offenders Act.
As far as the statistics that he quotes are concerned, I would have to examine them. We are not saying that we have a massive crime wave from young offenders. We are saying that the community is basically at a disadvantage with the operations of the juvenile justice system.
Beyond just quoting statistics, the law must be educative. It also must send the right message to the community. When you ask young people where I come from what is their view of the Young Offenders Act, they think it is a soft touch, that it is inappropriate. The act must represent what is socially appropriate in our nation.
We say the title of the Young Offenders Act truly must deal with young offenders.
In this age of social sophistication, certainly someone who is old enough to get a driver's licence and aim that weapon of a car down the street should be held accountable for their driving offences, their drunk driving or whatever it may be in a regular adult court system.