Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Legislation reviewed Bill 32 at its meeting on September 23, 1992. Currently the responsibility for the administration of the Young Offenders Act is shared by the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Social Services. The bill will amend the Young Offenders Act to remove responsibility for the administration of corrections services for young offenders from the Minister of Social Services.
The bill will make the Minister of Justice responsible for the entire act. The act applies to young persons between the ages of 12 and 18 years, who are charged with offenses. Specific areas of responsibility transferred to the Minister of Justice would include the designation of facilities as place of custody for young offenders, the establishment of a review board for the review of dispositions, the appointment of a territorial Director, youth workers, and a Youth Justice Committee to assist with the administration of the act, and to provide programs and services for young offenders.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Legislation remains committed to a process which involves ready public access and input to proposed legislative amendments. However, this bill reflects a straightforward administrative change which is necessary to give effect to the prior decision of this government to transfer responsibility for corrections services from the Department of Social Services to the Department of Justice.
Although there may be differing philosophies with respect to this transfer, the decision has been public for some time. Accordingly, the Standing Committee on Legislation did not hold public hearings on this amendment. However, we wish to affirm our commitment to the principle that the public should have a voice with regard to the principle, and substance, of any proposed law. As a rule, we will continue to give effect to this principle in the future.
Members of the committee expressed some concerns respecting the extent to which the Department of Justice is prepared to take over corrections services, and the associated responsibilities to youth. Members may wish to comment on these as we proceed with today's review of Bill 32 in committee of the whole.
Generally, however, the standing committee found the amendments, and passed a motion on September 23, to report that this bill is ready for consideration for committee of the whole.