Mr. Speaker, I will attempt to answer the concerns of the member for Fraser Valley West about the extension from 15 to 60 days since he directed his comments at me two or three times.
I think the member is aware that a temporary absence is usually used by provincial authorities to manage the inmate population. It is usually used for medical reasons such as when an inmate has to seek medical treatment outside the institution. It is also used for humanitarian related purposes. In going from 15 to 60 days we have consulted the people who are front line.
Quite often as politicians we are criticized because we legislate and do not take into consideration those aspects of the legislation that affect the front line people. They have asked us to increase it from 15 to 60 days for several reasons. First, when somebody is sentenced to a longer period of time there is a mechanism in place called the National Parole Board which most provinces have. They usually use that as the mechanism with which to administer the release of the inmate population. However, when we have a smaller period of time, a six month sentence for example, that process is too cumbersome. As a result they have asked for modifications in the law.
The 60 days would be required, for example, for an inmate to seek treatment outside or follow programs that might have a finite period of time exceeding the 15 days which seems to be very restrictive.
I want to reassure the hon. member for Fraser Valley West that there is an added safeguard in the legislation. There is a new provision that will require a reassessment of the offender's case prior to any renewal of any temporary absence. I hope that is the reassurance the member is seeking. Hopefully we can convince him later on to vote in favour of the bill.