Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the message the hon. member was giving, but I am afraid he missed the whole idea with regard to victims.
Let me quote Phyllis de Villiers, president of CAVEAT:
The credibility of the justice system depends on the way in which victims are treated and the system's sensitivity to their experience. Currently, victims are often revictimized by the justice system itself. While inordinate attention is paid to the rights of the offender, the victims are marginalized.
With the murder of my daughter, I suddenly became a victim with no voice, no face, no standing, no representation. I received no legal assistance nor advice to help me understand the process at a time when I was barely functioning. There is little recognition of the financial toll of violent crime, both on the victim and the community.
This was on May 30, 1997. We have heard some mighty fine words from the hon. member. He talked about paper promises. He mentioned that we have to show courtesy, compassion and respect. That is only normal. One would have to show those, but victims are not looking for compassion, respect and courtesy. They are looking for some action where justice is being served, where they could stay home and feel satisfied that they have been truly addressed.
The parole system is in a shambles. People are not happy with that. The victims cannot understand how their sons and daughters could be murdered, raped and vandalized by a person who has just got out of prison for the same crimes.
On section 45 tons of people across the country cannot understand how a first degree cold blooded killer could apply to get out of jail in 15 years.
These people keep talking about how they are compelled to address these issues and they are not. Liberal members came up with conditional release. They dreamt that up and it applies to violent offenders. Then there was statutory release even when the guards and the people on the frontline in prisons said that they should not be released because they would kill again. They do it, sit back and do nothing about it. We could ask the Melanie Carpenter family how it feels about statutory release.
CAVEAT exists as do FACTS, CRY, Kid Brother Campaign and MADD. All these victims groups exist because governments like the Liberal government have done nothing on their behalf.
What does the member propose to do for victims? I say to him “Don't give me any more of this courtesy, compassion and respect”.