CWLC Speaks Out to MPs on Bill C4

CWLC Speaks Out to MPs on Proposed Amendments to Youth Criminal Justice Act

CWLC appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on June 1st to present our views on the proposed amendments to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). Bill C4, also called Sébastien’s Law, introduces numerous amendments to the current legislation and many organizations across the country are concerned about the implications for Canadian youth if the Bill passes into law. Peter Dudding, CWLC Executive Director, spoke on behalf of CWLC. He highlighted how previous legislation, in particular the Juvenile Delinquents Act, which focused on lengthy incarceration, proved to be detrimental to the youth who came in contact with the system. The current YCJA, which focuses on rehabilitation and reintegration, is one of the first pieces of legislation to conform to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Bill C4 will reverse the great progress Canada has made in working with young offenders. Our lengthy objections were outlined to the Justice Committee. In addition, CWLC made four recommendations regarding broad changes to the implementation of the YCJA.

CWLC Board Member Michèle Goyette, a highly respected criminologist and current Director of Specialised Services for Young Offenders at the Centre jeunesse de Montréal – Institut universitaire, also appeared in May before the committee to highlight their objections to the many amendments in the proposed bill.

CWLC’s brief is available to view on our website – click here to read the brief, along with the three exhibits that were also made available. CWLC will remain vigilant in monitoring the federal government’s next steps on the issue of youth justice legislation