Anne McLellan

[Young Offenders Act, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, members of youth gangs who aid and abet in the perpetration of criminal offences can be charged.

[Young Offenders Act, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we have not ignored that. There are existing provisions both in the Criminal Code and in the existing Young Offenders Act that can deal with exactly that question.

I am appalled to hear that from members of the New Democratic Party. Are they suggesting, along with their friends in the Reform Party, that we should be putting 10 and 11 year olds in jail?

[Young Offenders Act, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member misunderstands the desires of Canadians.

What Canadians want is to make sure that 10 and 11 year olds, if they break the law, are not left to their own devices but get the help, support and treatment they need. That is why we believe the child welfare system or the mental health system is the best place to provide that assistance.

I have also made it plain my officials are working with provincial and territorial officials to make sure that together federal and provincial governments have a seamless system of services to make sure that no—

[Young Offenders Act, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate that we are not suggesting these young people should not be within a system.

It is the view of the government—and I thank my colleagues on this side of the House for supporting me on it—that it is best to use the child welfare system or the mental health system to help those children under 12.

[Young Offenders Act, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, again let me say this is a party that talks, that blathers on about fair commitment to children and families. This is a party which voted against the national child benefit. This is a party that voted against increased funding for CAPC. This is a party that would jail 10 year olds.

[Young Offenders Act, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. Leader of the Opposition misunderstands the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Let me reiterate that we on this side of the House believe a 10 year old or an 11 year old who breaks the law does need support, does need help. Where we need to look for that support and help is not in jail. It is in the child welfare system and the mental health system.

[Young Offenders Act, March 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we need to understand what the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights recommended.

Its concern was that children under the age of 12 who commit crimes not fall through the cracks in our system generally. We agree with that, but we do not believe that the formal criminal justice system is the best place in which to deal with and help those young children.

We have sat in the House listening to this party express its concern about children and families. We have got—

[Youth Criminal Justice Act, March 11th, 1999]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-68, an act in respect of criminal justice for young persons and to amend and repeal other acts.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Justice, February 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member may know, we are working very closely with a coalition of community groups to deal with a number of the problems facing the city of Vancouver, and in particular on Vancouver east side. In fact we are very hopeful that through partnership and collaboration we will be able to make a joint announcement in relation to some of the challenges there in the very near future.

The hon. member then asked a second question in relation to home invasions. Last week I had the opportunity to talk to my colleague, the Attorney General of B.C., Ujjal Dosanjh, who informed me he was writing to me with options that he would suggest for amendment to the code and I informed him—

[Firearms, February 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot comment on the program that the member refers to in El Salvador, but I will certainly follow up on that with my colleague who is responsible for CIDA.

Let me say that it has been a longstanding policy of this government in terms of firearms in fact either to provide grandfathering provisions for those who presently own various kinds of weapons, or in limited circumstances, very limited circumstances, to provide compensation. That policy continues.