According to the honourable member James Lunney, we cannot infer from statistics indicating that Canada’s crime rate is dropping that crime is actually decreasing because not all crime is reported.
So if crime is increasing in Canada, it must be unreported crime.
Despite offering no hard evidence to support the claim that crime in Canada is increasing, Mr. Lunney presents tougher sentencing as a solution to the supposed rising criminality.
But even if crime were rising in Canada, this would be unreported crime, which tougher sentences do nothing to combat. It is hardly necessary to point out that no sentence is handed down when the crime does not even come to the police’s attention.
The honourable member fails to justify the government’s crime bill on any rational grounds or on the basis of any evidence that corresponds accurately to reality.
I appeal to the people of Qualicum Beach, Parksville and surrounding area to submit your elected representative to stringent norms of reason.
Xander Selene, Montreal
