Mr. Speaker, the Criminal Code is the legislation which provides for what constitutes federal offenses, it also deals with the imposition of sentences as far as adult offenders are concerned. It says very little about the administration of the sentences because those fall under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act of Canada and the Prisons and Reformatories Act of Canada. The Criminal Code also applies to young people, since many of the offences committed by young offenders are also federal offences. The Member said on Friday that a minor offence would constitute something such as a break and enter. A break and enter is a federal offence under the Criminal Code and is considered a serious offence.

The procedures which need to be followed when charging young offenders and the proceedings which should be taken up against young people who commit criminal offences are separate and found in the federal Young Offenders Act.