Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, about 33 per cent of our inmates are in jail for offences which did not involve violence. About 13 per cent of all inmates have no violent history. If some of these inmates can serve their sentences outside of the additional walled prison, we might be able to avoid many costly problems down the road.
Earlier today, Minister Antoine indicated that Cabinet was shocked and dismayed by some of the arguments that were made by opponents to Bill C-222. Mr. Speaker, 1, too, am shocked and dismayed that a government department's first response is merely that it is too expensive. We have never done it that way before. It wouldn't work up here. My response is that the government has to learn how to think more creatively. Remember, jails are very expensive. They were never used here before the Second World War and they aren't working very well up here either. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--- Applause