Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue talking about conditional sentences. For people who are watching the debate, conditional sentencing is simply a loophole created by the former minister of justice which gives a judge the option of making a decision on whether people will be a threat to society and, if not, the judge can give the convicted people a conditional sentence of two years less a day that allows them to walk out of the court house.
I have no problem with someone getting a conditional sentence for shoplifting, for writing a couple of bad cheques or for committing some other misdemeanour crime because they are non-violent crimes. Certainly they will not be a threat to the safety of the community.
I will give some examples of people who are walking out of court under conditional sentencing. A fellow by the name of Fabian Torres received a conditional sentence in May 1997 after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which incidentally is killing somebody, in the shooting death of a 13 year old lad in 1995. He killed him and he walked out without serving one single day in jail.
On December 10, 1998 the Ottawa Sun reported “No jail term shocks victims”. A man who hypnotized his wife and forced his two step sons to have sex with her will not serve any time in jail. Justice Robert Desmarais handed Robert Demers a conditional sentence of two years less a day and two years probation.
I question once again the sanity of conditional sentencing. I also question the sanity of Justice Robert Desmarais who felt this was not a serious crime. The fellow did no jail time. The Edmonton Sun of March 18, 1998 reported that the sex exploiter was spared jail and talked of healing reserve. The man was convicted by Justice Cecilia Johnson of sexual exploitation. The judge noticed his lack of remorse when he denied the charges right up to sentencing but agreed to the defence lawyer's suggestion that he should receive a conditional sentence. Something is wrong with this picture.
People who are committing serious crimes are not spending any time in jail. That is what the Reform Party and the people of Canada are talking about, and the member just happens not to have been listening.