Mr. Speaker, the reason we were hung up on section 718.2 is that it was all the Reform Party was addressing and we were trying to educate the Reform Party to the fact that it was not the only issue in the bill.
I draw the hon. member's attention to section 718. I had trouble with some sections but I welcomed section 718 when I looked at the purpose and the principles of the bill because I also have a constituency where a lot of crime has crept in. Section 718 states:
The fundamental purpose of sentencing is to contribute, along with crime prevention initiatives, to respect for the law and the maintenance of a just, peaceful and safe society by imposing just sanctions that have one or more of the following objectives:
(a) to denounce unlawful conduct;
Unfortunately there are some Canadians who stoop to unlawful conduct. It continues:
(b) to deter the offender and other persons from committing offences;
(c) to separate offenders from society, where necessary;
In question period the Reform Party has been pressing this point. Sections 718(e) and (f) are specifically important. They state:
(e) to provide reparations for harm done to victims or to the community;
The judges in the past have had no direction and now the bill is giving them direction. If there is damage done to a community, hopefully in the sentencing the judge will take that into consideration. The criminal might be able to help the community more by restoring the damage rather than by sitting for two or five years behind bars.
They continue:
(f) to promote a sense of responsibility in offenders, and acknowledgement of the harm done to victims and to the community.
There is an organization called Parkdale Focus Community Watch in my constituency. That is exactly what it is focusing on. It wants to protect the safety of the streets and the homes of the community.
Would the hon. member agree with what is stated in the purpose and principles in section 718?