MINISTER OF JUSTICE MEETS YOUNG OFFENDERS FACE TO FACE

OTTAWA, July 29, 2008 - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today toured the William E. Hay Centre in Ottawa. This tour is part of the on-going consultations associated with the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) review. The review, announced by the Minister in October 2007, will identify areas of concern regarding the provisions and principles of the YCJA.

“Canadians are fed-up with sentences that fail to reflect the seriousness of the crime,” said Minister Nicholson. “Our Government is responding to serious youth crime by strengthening the YCJA and using fair and appropriate measures to hold young people accountable when they break the law.”

The William E. Hay Centre is a 24-bed residential facility serving youth in secure detention (pre-trial) and secure custody (post-trial sentence).

“In order to strengthen the YCJA it is important that we engage individuals working on the front-line of the Youth Criminal Justice system as well as youth – particularly those who have committed violent offences,” said Minister Nicholson, “I believe that together we can improve the YCJA and ensure that it works fairly and effectively for all Canadians.”

Since the review began, the Minister has met with many of his provincial and territorial counterparts and will continue to meet with youth and partner organizations across Canada. The views of the provinces and territories are important to the review as they play a key role in administering the YCJA.

The Government recently tabled Bill C-25, legislation which would amend the YCJA to include deterrence and denunciation as principles of sentencing and to strengthen provisions relating to pre-trial detention.

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

• Passed 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 http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/yj-jj/.

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Ref.:

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

Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207