Mr. Speaker, I have a hard time understanding this. A 17-year-old murders an individual, such as the mother in Edmonton. Someone else, who happens to be one year older, does the same thing. For him it is an automatic life sentence for first degree murder because he is one year older.
Why should there be a difference between a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old? Why should a 17-year-old who performs that kind of act receive three years, which is very possible, and an 18-year-old who performs that kind of heinous act receive a 25-year sentence?
I am struggling with the difference. Why do we not take 16 and 17 year olds and say they are in adult court, period? Why include something that says unless it can be proven that it would be more to their benefit to be in juvenile court? Are we trying to create more work for lawyers? That is probably one of the motives, but I would not dare suggest it.