Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Youth Criminal Justice Act is a very significant piece of federal legislation that came into force three years ago, Mr. Speaker. It governs the way our courts and enforcement agencies deal with criminal offences by young people. It is a complicated piece of work. The so-called pocket guide, if you call it up on your computer, Mr. Speaker, runs to 165 pages.
It seems despite the progressive nature of this piece of work and the complexity of it, that it seems to be a problem for us, Mr. Speaker, because it can't keep young offenders, especially chronic young offenders, under control.
Mr. Speaker, like Inuvik a few weeks ago, Yellowknife is now experiencing a rash of snowmobile thefts, 37 since the start of this year. That's almost one a day. Ten youth have been charged in connection with this. Damage is estimated to the machines involved at potentially a quarter of a million dollars, Mr. Speaker.
A 14-year-old arrested in connection with this recent rash of thefts has three charges against him, but the strictest control that can be applied, Mr. Speaker, is a curfew and weekend house arrest.
Mr. Speaker, recently a fire at the YWCA complex in my riding was set by young people. It's become an increasing problem. Youth who apparently have no home or families, no school, make their way by couch surfing, disturbing the neighbourhood, but there is no way for police or the social services network to intervene.
Much of our law and social service philosophy, Mr. Speaker, is biased, based on the interests of the offender; the homeless, the disenfranchised, the outcast, but there is a consequence for otherwise law-abiding people when their lives and safety are threatened and we seem powerless to bring some degree of control into these cases of chronic young offenders. Situations arise, Mr. Speaker, where youth can go on crime sprees, but not until they are sentenced, breach that sentence, are sentenced again, breach that sentence, are charged and sentenced again, are they eligible to be detained by police and given custodial sentence.
The Youth Criminal Justice Act is potentially failing both victims and criminals. I am wondering, Mr. Speaker, is it time that we rethink the way we manage young people who commit crimes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause