Jim Karygiannis
Liberal
Mr. Jim Karygiannis (Scarborough-Agincourt):
Madam Speaker, I will be rising later today to present a petition containing approximately 5,000 names which were gathered by two residents of Scarborough, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, who are with us today in the gallery.
This petition, which calls for strengthening the provisions in the Young Offenders Act, came about after the son of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford was viciously murdered in a Scarborough storm sewer by three young offenders. Crimes such as this must not be dealt with in a superficial way. Changes are needed in the legislation and needed today.
Canadians from every corner of the country have
called for changes for many years now and this government has failed on all accounts. I would like to call on the government, which indicated in the House on Wednesday that it might table a white paper on the Young Offenders Act, to stop its delaying tactics and use what time is left in the life of the session to table sensitive changes to the YOA. Failing this, I ask it to set up a public inquiry over the summer to let the people of this country have the opportunity to express their concerns over this flawed act.
The time for change is now.
Subtopic: YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT