Mr. Speaker, I remind the House that the section in question which, as I have said, is being studied from the point of view of change, leaves it to a jury made up of members of the community to see whether there should be an earlier parole eligibility and any decisions are made by the arm's length independent parole board.
I repeat, we understand community concerns and we are working on what could well amount to changes to section 745 to respond to these concerns.
I remind the House when it came to the private member's bill in question the government for the first time established in the House the principle that these measures when they come to a vote are dealt with on a free vote basis.
It is because of the policy of this government that the bill went to committee and it is because of the policy of this government that the bill was restored. If it had been up to the Reform Party that bill would not have been restored; it would be dead today.