Mr. Speaker, I have met with Darlene Boyd. I have spoken to her directly about this issue. I saw for myself the enormous tragedy she has had to endure and live through.
I know I speak for all members of this House when I say our hearts go out to Darlene Boyd and to others who find themselves facing those types of tragedies.
If the hon. member and his colleagues in the Reform Party would co-operate with us and support Bill C-45, as I urge them to do, we will change the provisions of the Criminal Code so that before anyone who is in custody can bring such an application they would first have to have it screened by a judge of a superior court to demonstrate, and they would bear the onus, that there is a reasonable prospect of their success in front of a jury.
Second, they would have to persuade a jury unanimously, as opposed to the present two-thirds rule, that they should be given permission to apply early to the parole board.
I believe those changes allow us to retain this provision, which has been part of criminal law for 20 years, while improving it and ensuring that it is available only in exceptional cases. I urge the member to join us in passing that legislation.