Good morning.
It's good to be here with you, to be among friends, and to see colleagues such as Commissioners Zaccardelli, Ian Glen, Keith Coulter and Luc Portelance, and Deputy Minister Margaret Bloodworth. In this room, I see people who are committed to protecting the safety and security of Canadians… people who are harnessing all the tools at their command to stay one step ahead of crime… people who are working together for a common cause because they know that greater collaboration is the only way to reduce risk in our society.
For more than 30 years, the National Joint Committee has been a focal point for improving collaboration among all the players in the criminal justice system-from police and correctional authorities to the courts.
You've been true pioneers in breaking down traditional barriers among these disciplines, and encouraging everyone to pool intelligence for the good of all. And you continue to break new ground.
More than anyone else, you understand that the nature of public safety and security is rapidly changing, and we have to change with it.
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) recognizes this and the importance of its contribution to the national security agenda under the National Security Policy. Events that have taken place in other countries -- such as the Madrid bombings and the London bombings this summer -- have been a sharp reminder that we are not exempt from these types of threats. And we are constantly working to assess, identify and mitigate any possible threats to our national security.
As an organization that regroups key criminal justice partners, you should always keep your eyes and years open to the possibility, that members of organized crime groups may have links with terrorist groups, or may be themselves committing criminal acts to finance their activities.
The Government of Canada created the public safety portfolio recognizing that, in these complex times, we need to scale-up our approach to collaborating across disciplines, jurisdictions and borders to achieve our shared objectives of protecting the safety and security of Canadians.
We need to continue to find ways to work together and share information so we can build safer communities and a more effective and efficient criminal justice system. That's why your work-and this meeting-is so important, and that's why I feel so privileged to join you today.
I'm very proud that my department continues to support your work financially. And I'd like to talk to you this morning about how we support your work in other ways-through the development of policy and legislation that enhances public safety and improves the criminal justice system.
Let me start with amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, which were tabled in Parliament last April. The Government had five key objectives with its amendments. We wanted…
· To tighten up the Accelerated Parole Review process;
· To reinforce greater scrutiny of those eligible for Statutory Release;
· To streamline the Temporary Absence process;
· To permit terminally ill offenders to apply for early release on
humanitarian grounds; and
· To expand the information about offenders that can be shared with
victims.
Our goal is to maintain a corrections-and-parole system that makes the safety
and security of all Canadians its top priority.
In addition to these changes, the Government of Canada introduced new measures to benefit victims of crime, which were put in place just a few weeks ago. Victims can now apply for financial assistance to attend National Parole Board hearings of the offender who harmed them. If they wish, they can also make a statement at the hearings.
These are important changes. As a Member of Parliament for Toronto, I am in
contact with constituents who have been crime victims, especially crime involving
illegal firearms. I've seen their anguish and their pain. For many of them,
it's vital to witness the hearings of those who offended them-both for their
emotional recovery and for their sense of justice.
So I know it must be frustrating for victims who want to attend an out-of-town hearing, but cannot afford to do so. This new program, which covers travel, hotel and meal expenses, will help ease their financial burden.
In addition, we have established a new National Office for Victims, co-located within our department and the Policy Centre for Victim Issues within the Department of Justice. The new Office provides a centralized source of information for victims about their entitlements, as well as an avenue to express concerns and complaints about federal corrections. Victims can contact the Office toll-free from anywhere in Canada or the United States.
Together, the travel assistance program and the new National
Office for Victims are concrete examples of the Government's commitment to
support victims of crime while respecting the rule of law. There is a sense
among the public that we need to better balance the rights of victims with
the rights of the accused, and that is what these initiatives are contributing
to.
And on another important front, last week Justice Minister and Attorney General
of Canada, Irwin Cotler, announced his intention to introduce in Parliament
a package of legislative reforms to address the illegal use of guns. This
would be part of a three pronged strategy; first, legislative measures and
enhanced punishments; second, initiatives to assist prosecutors and law enforcement
officials in bringing the perpetrators of gun-related crimes to justice; and
third, investments to prevent youth from following a life of crime and to
provide them with the opportunity for a better life. I'll speak more about
those crime prevention investments in a moment, but for now I'd like to address
the second prong of the strategy, which I believe deserves special focus.
In my view, and in the view of many Canadians the courts could be doing more
to combat the growth of gun violence, and that's why I'm pleased that Minister
Cotler announced a formal agreement with the Province of Ontario to create
dedicated, integrated teams of federal and provincial officials to collaborate
and coordinate efforts to prosecute gun crimes. Prosecutors will be cross-designated
to represent both the Attorneys General of Canada and Ontario and to allow
greater flexibility in the choice of offences to be prosecuted. Too often,
at a minimum there is the perception that judges and prosecutors do not properly
deal with firearms offences by applying the appropriate penalties for the
use of firearms in the commission of crimes.
There are sentencing laws on the books that need to be applied, and this is
an issue that I hope to see rectified by this agreement. Canadians increasingly
are developing a zero tolerance for crimes committed with guns. We have some
tough sentences on our books now - let's use them.
It's important to recognize that tougher sentencing, while necessary, is not the only piece of the puzzle. However, crime prevention is also crucial. One of the newer challenges we face is street gangs. In many of our cities in Canada (Certainly where I live - Toronto) street gangs have begun to threaten the safety of Canadians. We also saw, just recently, the unrest in the streets of Paris and elsewhere in France. There is a cry for help coming from them in the form of violence.
And, as I mentioned, the third prong of the strategy announced last week was
Prime Minister Martin's announcement of $50 million of new funding for the
expansion of Canada's national crime prevention strategy through the creation
of a five-year fund to deal with gun violence and gangs prevention. This fund
will provide money every year to organizations and governments who are working
to reduce gang violence, gang activity and gun violence. The PM said that,
"the solution to violent crimes among our youth is not to treat them
like hardened criminals. It is to help them recognize the value of their own
lives."
The National Joint Committee, both regionally and nationally, should work together and with its community partners to find lasting solutions. We must share our information, our expertise and our knowledge so that together we can stop street violence.
Now, I will move on to talk about how the Government is supporting law enforcement
directly in their work with a particular example.
When the NJC was set up 30-odd years ago, forensic DNA was the stuff of science fiction. No longer. I need hardly convince you that, with the creation of the National DNA Databank five years ago, police investigations have truly moved into the 21st century.
Yet law enforcement has made it clear that we need to strengthen legislation
surrounding use of DNA. In the interests of public safety, Canada needs laws
to expand retroactive sampling. We also need laws to permit the collection
of more DNA samples from convicted offenders.
Last May, we took a giant step towards these goals when Bill C-13 received Royal Assent. With this legislation, law enforcement professionals can now expand retroactive sampling beyond the year 2000. And they can also destroy inappropriate samples.
A few weeks ago, the Government tabled a series of technical amendments to
complement these reforms to the DNA databank laws. The proposed amendments
will lay the foundation for other elements of Bill C-13 to come into force,
such as the collection of DNA samples from more convicted offenders.
Parliamentarians recognize the value of the DNA databank as a powerful crime-fighting tool. Not just for protecting Canadians from offenders, but also for exonerating the innocent.
Lastly, I want like to highlight legislation that relates to a particularly hideous crime: the exploitation of children. In October 2004, the Minister of Justice introduced amendments to increase the protection of children and other vulnerable people from sexual exploitation, violence, abuse and neglect. This bill, which received Royal Assent this summer, provides the most comprehensive child protection legislation of any country in the world.
It broadens the definition of child pornography; It introduces minimum sentences; It increases maximum penalties. It narrows existing defences to a single legitimate defence. And it better protects youth between the ages of 14 and 18.
In addition, last winter we launched Cybertip.ca-Canada's national tipline
to report the online sexual exploitation of children. If anyone had any doubts
about the need for this service, they need only look at the stats for the
first quarter of operation. In its first three months, Cybertip.ca received
nearly 1,400 reports of child sexual exploitation on the Internet-a 298 percent
increase from the same number of days before the launch, when the tipline
was still a pilot project.
This shows that Canadians want to help eradicate the sexual victimization
of children on the Internet. They want to help make our communities-whether
physical or virtual-safe and secure for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
Nothing could be more important.
I am pleased to note the partnerships at the heart of Cybertip.ca, which range from the law enforcement community to the private and public sectors. Protecting our safety and security is everyone's business, and Cybertip.ca shows how we can all work together to do it.
Ladies and gentlemen, working together to protect public safety is what it's all about, and by doing so, we can achieve solutions to dealing with threats to the safety of our communities.
The NJC is yet another shining example of just what we can accomplish by setting aside our differences… by looking at our common goals… and by putting the interests of our clients-the Canadian public-front and centre.
When I look at your agenda, I see the tremendous challenges you face. But I also know that you have a powerful legacy to draw upon… a legacy built on mutual respect, cooperation, trust, and a strong commitment to serve Canadians.
I want to commend all of you for your dedication, and wish you the best for your meeting. You can be sure the Government of Canada supports your work and efforts. And we are eager to hear about the outcomes of your meeting.
Thank you. Merci.