Mr. Speaker, in fact the hon. member raises a very disturbing situation, a very disturbing and tragic case in Montreal last week. First let me point out that my colleague, the attorney general of Quebec, Mr. Ménard, is appealing that case. Obviously it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further in relation to the facts of the case.
The hon. member more generally speaks of conditional sentencing. I made it very plain in this House that conditional sentencing is a relatively new provision in our Criminal Code. Courts of appeal across this country are developing guidelines for lower courts and we must await the outcome of those cases before considering further action.