Mr. Speaker, may I first of all make it clear that I intended no disrespect to the hon. member when I left the Chamber for a few moments. I am sure he knows that and I trust that the Speaker knows it as well.
In response to the point raised by the hon. member, I take it that what he is advocating is a balance in the approach. We must take steps to strengthen the criminal justice system. We must also be sensitive to the rights and the interests of the victim. I believe that is what we have reflected in the steps we have taken as a government.
We have introduced, for example, in Bill C-68 mandatory minimum penitentiary terms-the longest in the Criminal Code-for those who use guns in crime. That is a very significant punitive element in the criminal law. I know that it has the support of the members of the third party.
At the same time in Bill C-41, for example, we have recognized the role and the rights of the victim in the strengthened restitution provisions. We have changed the section 745 procedure so that they are guaranteed a role in such applications. In Bill C-42 we have made it unnecessary for them to go to court, for example, when-