Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling an information package for Members concerning the federal proposal for new legislation governing young offenders. Last month, the Federal Minister of Justice released a document entitled, A Strategy for the Renewal of Youth Justice, in May. This outlines the intentions of the federal government with regard to young offenders. The policy document provides direction for a new Youth Criminal Justice Act that will replace the current Young Offender Act. Justice Minister, Anne McLellan has indicated that she plans to introduce draft legislation this September. The policy document traces only the broad outline of her approach to young offenders. Much work remains over the coming months to translate the policy document into legislation. The information package that I will table later today is based on the information received so far from the Department of Justice Canada. The document has two priorities. On the one hand, it encourages community-based sanctions and effective alternative measures for non-violent offenders. On the other hand, it promotes harsher treatment for violent and repeat offenders. The document also emphasizes the importance of meaningful consequences for youth crime.

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