Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. It simply is not possible to compare long-term prison inmates to those inmates who are in prison for a very brief period of time. Yet, under the current legislation, both long-term and short-term inmates, regardless of the differences of their offenses, lose their right to vote.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government, in the most recent election, allowed those inmates who are jailed for two years or less to vote in the recent election. Inmates with sentences greater than two years are not allowed to vote. I believe that the federal government's approach on this issue is rational and reasonable and that their approach will withstand the scrutiny of the courts.

Mr. Speaker, two years ago Members stated that the courts should not deal with this issue, that this issue was a matter for this House to decide. I urge us all to have a debate in the near future on this issue that so many Members called for two years ago. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.