Mr. Speaker, I have listened carefully.
I want to make this very clear. By our motion today we are not asking for increased penalties particularly. We are not discarding the social help side for those offenders who can take it up. We are asking that the Young Offenders Act, under the concept of diminished capacity for handling young offenders somewhat differently than adults, simply apply to the right group.
Why does the member misrepresent what I have said? Why does she feel it necessary to misrepresent our motion today? I ask what philosophy she has that in view of obvious national concern of what is not working she would essentially defend the status quo.
The big debate in the House the last time when the Young Offenders Act was passed was largely about the upper age, whether it should be 16, 17 or 18 and what the cut-off age should be. The House was essentially divided 50-50 at the time. A decision was made and for the last 10 years we have lived with the consequences of that decision.
I say to the member that she should ask her constituents what they want rather than telling them what they should want. The data is in from the national mood, from what we have been living with. The people have asked for our motion today.