FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL ATTORNEYS GENERAL MEET TO DISCUSS THE REVIEW OF THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT

Ottawa, February 15, 2008 - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today met with provincial and territorial Attorneys General in Ottawa to discuss the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

“This Government is committed to making sure that the YCJA effectively holds youth accountable for their crimes,” said Minister Nicholson. “The views of my provincial and territorial colleagues are critical to this review as they play a key role in the administration of the Act.”

The meeting of federal, provincial and territorial Attorneys General was an important element in the comprehensive review of the YCJA. The review, announced by Minister Nicholson in October 2007, is intended to identify areas of concern regarding the provisions and principles of the YCJA.

“Today’s meeting provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas about YCJA issues,” said Minister Nicholson. “I appreciate the insights provided by my colleagues and am confident that this review will lead to improvements in the YCJA.”

On November 19, 2007, the Government tabled a bill to amend the YCJA to include deterrence and denunciation as principles of sentencing and to strengthen provisions relating to pre-trial detention. These amendments will ensure that appropriate sentencing principles will be considered in imposing penalties for youth crime and make it easier to detain those who are a risk to public safety before their trials.

In keeping with its commitment to community safety, apart from its plan to strengthen the YCJA, the Government of Canada has also:

• introduced the comprehensive Tackling Violent Crime Act that aims to better protect youth from sexual predators, protect society from dangerous offenders, get serious with drug impaired drivers and toughen sentencing and bail for those who commit serious gun crimes;
  
• introduced a National Anti-Drug Strategy, including legislation that would provide mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes;
  
• invested in crime prevention community projects across Canada that target youth;
  
• tabled legislation to protect Canadians against identity theft;
  
• passed legislation to increase penalties for those convicted of street racing; and
  
• passed legislation to end conditional sentences for serious crimes such as personal injury offences.

For further information about the youth criminal justice system and the YCJA visit www.justice.gc.ca/youth.

-30-

For more information:

Darren Eke
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621

Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207