Mr. Speaker, yesterday I received letters from the 10th grade social studies class of Senator Gershaw School in Bow Island, Alberta.
One reads:
Dear Mr. Solberg:
I have decided to write to you on an issue that concerns me, the Young Offenders Act.
I am only fifteen so I can relate to the young offenders in this country better than an adult could. I saw on television a short time ago a little ten year old boy who is already an experienced car thief. He even admitted to his crimes-because he knew he could get away with it and-police could do nothing but "slap their wrists".
I am appalled that we are protecting the criminals. About a week ago in Medicine Hat, a young offender stabbed another and his name was not released. Why? Who did the crime? Why are we protecting the child who stabbed another one of his classmates? We should be protected from him, not the other way around.
Is this the Canada we really want? These are the generations ahead that will be in charge of our great country. What happens then?
Yours truly,
Adam Larsen