JUSTICE MINISTER COMPLETES YOUTH JUSTICE CONSULTATION TOUR

WHITEHORSE, YK August 22, 2008 - The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Canada, will today complete the final leg of a cross-Canada youth justice consultation tour by holding a roundtable discussion in Whitehorse, YK. Since, May 24, 2008, Minister Nicholson has met with key youth justice stakeholders in all regions of Canada to seek their input on improvements to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

“Canadians feel that serious and violent young offenders are sometimes not held fully accountable under the Act,” said Minister Nicholson. “Our Government shares this concern and is committed to ensuring that youth sentences are proportionate to the seriousness of the crime.”

Minister Nicholson announced the YCJA review in October, 2007. Since then, he has met with his provincial and territorial counterparts as well as youth and partner organizations across the country. The Government of Canada is seeking the input of provinces and territories as they play a key role in administering the YCJA.

On Tuesday and Thursday of this week, Minister Nicholson held roundtable discussions with his territorial counterparts and stakeholders in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The roundtable discussion in the Yukon will complete the 13-city series of provincial and territorial roundtables.

In addition to the YCJA review, the Government of Canada has tabled legislation to amend the YCJA to include deterrence and denunciation as principles of sentencing and to strengthen provisions related to pre-trial detention. These new measures will protect communities from youth who pose a significant risk to public safety.

In keeping with its commitment to community safety, along with its plan to strengthen the YCJA, the Government of Canada has also:

• Passed into law the comprehensive Tackling Violent Crime Act that aims to better protect youth from sexual predators, protect society from dangerous offenders, get serious with drug impaired drivers and toughen sentencing and bail for those who commit serious gun crimes;
• Passed legislation to increase penalties for those convicted of street racing;
• Passed legislation to end conditional sentences for serious personal injury offences;
• Introduced a National Anti-Drug Strategy, including legislation that would provide mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes;
• Invested in community projects across Canada that target youth;
• Tabled legislation to protect Canadians against identity theft; and
• Tabled legislation to tackle property theft, including the serious crime of auto theft.

For further information about the youth criminal justice system and the YCJA visit http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/yj-jj/.

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Ref.:

Office of the Minister of Justice & Attorney General of Canada
Darren Eke
Press Secretary
613-992-4621

Department of Justice Canada
Media Relations
613-957-4207