Mr. Speaker, my statement is about this high powered committee consisting of the collections commissioner, parole board chairmen, deputy ministers of justice and the solicitor general's department. They feel there are problems, and these are some of the reasons.
They say that sentences are longer. Is that a problem? They also say that there are more challenging prisoners, the criminally challenged; increased periods of detention; a growing lifer group; an aging prison society; declining parole grant rates; and the toughening of laws.
Perhaps I can help the Liberal government. Why not look for new ways of doing things? Why not look at privatization of a couple of the prisons? What is wrong with double bunking? Why not restrict some of the ridiculous benefits like golf, project bleach, GST rebates for prisoners, prisoner's ability to sue and the ability to refuse work?
If the government does not like that, resign and let someone else with new ideas and courage take over.