Mr. Speaker, May 4 to 10 is national Elizabeth Fry week. The purpose of national Elizabeth Fry week is to promote public awareness and education regarding the circumstances of women involved in the criminal justice system.
This year's theme focuses on alternatives to incarceration. Across Canada Elizabeth Fry societies have organized public events in their communities to encourage all Canadians to examine productive and responsible alternatives to costly incarceration.
The incarceration of women has great consequences not only on the women themselves but on their children, their families and on society as a whole.
I urge my colleagues to join with the society to bring greater public awareness to this issue.