MPP JOURNAL for the week of July 2, 2021 |
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TILSON CO-CHAIRS CRIME CONTROL HEARINGS
The Ontario Crime Control Commission kicked off a series of
hearings on the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Aurora, June 25,
2001. As co-chair of the
Crime Control Commission, I will be involved in these hearings across
Ontario.
The Commission is holding consultations across Ontario during the
summer months, in order to appear before the Senate Justice Committee this
fall. The Commission is asking the citizens of Ontario of
their feelings of the newly amended Federal Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The first consultation, held in Aurora, involved members of the
general public, and presentations included Bruce Miller, Joe Wamback and
John Muise. Bruce Miller is the administrator of the Police Association
of Ontario, and has experience with the London Police Service working with
the break and enter department, as well as with the major crime squads.
Joe Wamback is the father of a young man who was attacked in June
of 1999 by a gang of youths. Mr.
Wamback has been continuously vocal in speaking against the Young
Offenders Act, and its many iterations. His son, who was not expected
to live, is still recovering from his injuries.
Mr. John Muise is a Detective Sergeant with the Toronto Police
Services and is currently assigned to the Office for Victims of Crime.
Mr. Muise would also like to see changes made to the Youth
Criminal Justice Act to see it more closely reflect a level of
protection sought by Ontarians.
Despite a series of written requests from the Ontario justice
ministers and the co-chairs of the Ontario Crime Control Commission to
appear as witnesses before the federal House of Commons Standing Committee
on Justice on the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the federal
government has refused to hear Ontario’s concerns about the inadequacy
of the changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Attorney General, David Young has put forward recommendations to
amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
There are four recommendations in all, which include:
sixteen and 17-year-olds should receive automatic trials and
sentencing as adults when charged with a serious offence such as murder or
manslaughter; sentencing 14 and 15-year-olds as adults when charge with a
serious offence unless it can be shown why the offender should be
sentenced as a young person; mandatory jail should be implemented for
using or threatening the use of a weapon.
The fourth recommendation would allow the publication of the
identity of any young offender who: receives an adult sentence; is 14
years or older and guilty of a serious offence; is 14 years or older and
is charged with a serious offence for which an adult sentence is being
sought, for the duration of the trial.
The Ontario Crime Control Commission is seeking the public’s
input on the Youth Criminal Justice Act and their suggestions on
how to make it better for the safety of all citizens in Ontario.
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Community Office
244 Broadway, Orangeville, ON L9W 1K5
Phone: (519) 941-7751 Toll Free: 1-800-265-1603
Fax: (519) 941-3246
Website: www.davidtilson.ca