Madam Speaker, before I get into a couple of the points I want to make during this speech, I want to cover some comments that have been made.
Yesterday, for instance, the government whip read some statistics about crime. He said crime was going down. Maybe it is well-meaning to try and win an argument on that basis, but by and large where there are murderers and where there is crime one has to deal with it.
It is pretty difficult in my riding to talk about crime going down because crime is not going down. In Vernon, not too far from my home, about three or four hours' drive, in April 10 people were shot. A week and a half ago five people were murdered in my riding.
This week, starting this morning, many members may know that the trial of the individual charged with murdering young Tanya Smith is taking place. That happened very close to my home. It is difficult to listen to people on the other side downplay the importance of what this debate is all about.
Members have talked about all kinds of crimes in this debate. We just heard a little bit of rambling from one of the separatist individuals, again downplaying the issue of first degree murder. First degree murder is premeditated murder. It is deliberate. It is a pre-planned action by people with no conscience, by people who
deliberately obliterate a life or lives and who are not worried about the consequences.
I think we have to consider when these people are getting out and why. I heard the member for Dartmouth a while a go talking about knee-jerk reactions from the Reform Party.
It is rather interesting that now the Liberals are taking credit for the amendment to section 745 of the Criminal Code when in fact it was one of their own members who brought up in a private member's bill the repeal of section 745, which they dislike so much. For that reason and for voting against the budget, that member is no longer a Liberal. And they are taking credit for the amendments to section 745. I find it incredible. The next thing we know they will be bragging about it.
It was not this government at all. It was due to the efforts of an individual who had the courage of his own convictions to fight and ride it through, to work with victims all over the country.