Mr. Speaker, the government of Quebec submitted an analysis, which I could give my colleague. It was tabled with the House justice committee. Very clearly, it says first that this bill is not justified. Reasons are given for increasing sentences. Sentences were just increased in 1992, when Kim Campbell was the Minister of Justice. In 1992, she increased sentences for young offenders.
We have yet to see the results. Now we are giving in again. We are trying to be like the people of California, or just about. Their biggest budget items are prisons and the police. We want health and education to be the biggest items here, not prisons and the police.
In the bill, sentences are being increased. What is more serious in this bill from the standpoint of young people? One very important point is that, from now on, detention will be almost impossible for young people who have not committed serious crimes against individuals.
For example, young people involved in car theft networks or even in drug or cigarette trafficking, who have not been caught committing crimes against individuals, but who need to be withdrawn from their surroundings, must be detained for rehabilitation. The bill will restrict the ability of those in these situations who must intervene and remove young people from their surroundings so that they do not become hardened criminals.
On the one hand, unfortunately, sentences are being increased, while on the other, offences for which such sentences can be imposed are being restricted. Basically, however, if the system is adequate-which is unfortunately not the case in all provinces-being in custody allows for the young person to be extricated from criminal surroundings and rehabilitated before it is too late. The other aspect which seems absurd to us is that a 16 or 17-year old will have to prove that he should be heard in youth court.
First of all, I would like to point out a misconception which I hear on a regular basis from members of the Reform Party. In certain cases, young persons might clearly fare better before an adult court than under the Young Offenders Act because the Young Offenders Act also provides for extended sentences in certain cases to allow for rehabilitation and, very often, such young persons are removed from a series of measures instituted to help them, but also to supervise them.
I listened to what was said and at times I found it quite astonishing. Putting young persons into custody under the present system is no picnic for them, but it provides for good supervision and gives them a chance to make a fresh start for themselves. The bill refers to rehabilitation; the preamble has been changed. Nothing in the amendments provides for improved rehabilitation. Changing the preamble and including all the measures which appeal to the Reform Party will not improve the act.
In Quebec, we are systematically opposed to it. All institutions, departments concerned and interested parties know that it is taking us in the wrong direction.