Mr. Speaker, I have just spoken to Chuck Cadman whose son Jesse was senselessly murdered by a young offender for his baseball cap in a Fraser Valley community a couple of years ago.
Chuck, who founded a group called CRY-Crime, Responsibility and Youth-is disappointed with the Liberal attempt at reforming the Young Offenders Act. His group's numerous recommendations have turned into a cry in the dark. Yet the justice minister claims he is listening to Canadians.
This government will soon see thousands of letters coming to the justice minister from all across this country, all crying out for stronger action on young offenders.
We have just found out that a violent repeat young offender has escaped from a youth detention centre by melting through a Plexiglas barrier with a soldering gun. The young offender who sliced his way to freedom was very innovative. We need equally innovative laws to keep up to these people, and today's half way measures do not cut it.
How many more innocent people have to die before the justice minister proves to Canadians he can actually hear their cries in the dark?