Mr. Speaker, the barely sworn in Minister of Justice is already demonstrating the same arrogance as his predecessor and is prepared to do anything to impose a law upon us that does not take into consideration the distinct character of Quebec as far as its treatment of young offenders is concerned.
We would have liked to have seen more flexibility, more openness, and more respect from a minister from Quebec. This new lieutenant of the Prime Minister is starting off his new mandate very much on the wrong foot.
Quebecers will not forget that he has put his personal interests ahead of their young offenders; neither will they forget that he has denied their distinct nature although the Quebec model has resulted in the lowest rate of youth crime in Canada.
The minister's philosophy is repression rather than rehabilitation, to put 14 year olds in jail with adults, to judge them according to the severity of their crime rather than according to their particular needs.
This government's philosophy and the philosophy of this new Minister of Justice is to serve the interests of Canadian unity, not those of the young people of this country.