Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of questions to ask the hon. member. I would like to comment on the 14 per cent of crimes being committed by youth; 12 to 17 year olds if I am not mistaken make up 14 per cent of the population, so that balances out pretty well.
Recently I went on a ride along in several places with police throughout the country, not just in one or two places. I witnessed the police dealing with youth on a few occasions. On many occasions there were no charges brought forward. Rather, the police dealt with the situation. They contacted parents and charges did not follow.
If charges were being made at a ridiculous pace to include school fights et cetera, I would have thought from those nights I was involved that there would have been a real increase in crime. However, there were no charges brought forward. I wonder what basis he has to show this House that is happening, that school yard fights are being reported. Where does he get his information?
I know at my school in my district of many schools, never once were the police ever called. That was until 1992. Never once were they called for a school yard fight. As far as I know, to this day they have never been.
He said that some provinces throw them in the clink for four to ten months and then just let them go. I would like to know what provinces these are and where he got his information.