MPP JOURNAL for the week of July 2, 2021

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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