Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In general, the amendments are worthy of passing. However, I must add my comments to Mr. Ballantyne's. Although I am a Member of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I spoke against the notion that those who are convicted and jailed be eligible to vote. I sought counsel on this, I just didn't want to have only my own opinion expressed, but I have yet to receive anybody's support in allowing inmates to vote. I haven't heard people say that it is a given right, once people are incarcerated for crimes they have committed and are duly sentenced, that they be allowed the privilege of casting a vote.
I, too, questioned the methodology of how this was going to come about. I live right across the street from the centre, I suppose I would have an advantage here because I put a big sign up on my balcony and it would be seen by all the inmates there. But I tell you, a person who is looking for votes to win an election and having to depend on inmates, I think, is going to have a bit of a problem anyway.
I don't know how this would be worked out. I know that it certainly will be challenged, but I would be willing to allow it to be challenged first before we go ahead and pass it into law without putting up a fight. I think if somebody wants to challenge it through the courts, then they should have that right and then we'll see what happens to it. But I certainly wanted to go on record saying that I am not one who was in favour of a general amnesty to voting by inmates who have been duly convicted and duly sentenced. There are no sanctions any more at all, or there is no -- well, I wouldn't use the word "stigma." But, now when you go to jail you get everything. It's just like being out on the street. You get education, you get your teeth fixed, you get three squares a day, you get room and board and you get money. You get more money than the people who sent you in there, sometimes. On top of that, now you will have an opportunity to vote, maybe even to run in the next election. It does not send a message to young people or to people any more that there's any deterrence to committing an offence because there are no penalties for that.
One of the things that people have fought and died for was the right to vote, and now it turns out it doesn't really matter what you do, you have that right. I'll leave it at that, Mr. Chairman. I haven't got a motion prepared to get that stricken from the legislation, but I certainly would entertain something like that. Thank you.