Mr. Speaker, today the voices of victims of crime are being heard on Parliament Hill.
They are calling for more than platitudes from the government. They are demanding real change to our criminal justice system. Across the country people are outraged because they believe our courts are too lenient and that parole and statutory release have become a licence for criminals to reoffend.
In Calgary where my riding of Calgary North is located, four women have been killed in the last eight weeks. As an added insult, one of the accused killers was granted bail within one week of being charged and is back out in the community.
Canadians have a right to ask why they are not being protected from thugs and criminals.
Today, citizens from across Canada have come to Ottawa to send a message to their elected representatives. Victims of crime must come first in a system where public safety is the number one priority. Reformers say Canadians expect and deserve no less.