In response to public and police concern we tightened some of the sentencing provisions of the Young Offenders Act and we continue to develop improvements. I believe the public and the police are frustrated by present laws that allow repeat, chronic offenders to slip through. I think we should be looking at much tougher provisions for this particular group of young offenders. I am always conscious when we talk about police accountability, oversight committees, more detailed policies, that we not lose sight of the fact that we put police out there in front of us for a reason. Nobody's rights are protected by needless or knee-jerk hampering of police in the job we mandate them to do.
Police have a difficult and challenging job.
I know that Canadians admire and respect the work they do. But they can only be as good as the training, leadership and policies they receive. I say we look at new ways to help the police form partnerships with those they work for and serve and get on with the real business, protecting all the citizens of Canada from crime and threats to their security. I wish you all a successful and enjoyable annual conference.