VIOLENT YOUNG CRIMINALS NOW
RESPONSIBILITY
OF MINISTRY OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES
TORONTO _ If convicted, three
teenagers charged with first degree murder in
the brutal death of a 12-year-old boy here this
week, will fall under the jurisdiction of the
Ontario government’s new Ministry of Children’s
Services.
The new Liberal government is transferring
responsibility for the province’s Young
Offender services from the Ministry of Correctional
Services to the new Ministry of Children’s,
Minister Marie Bountrogianni announced in the
Legislature this week. She said the transfer
will be completed by the end of the year.
Ontario’s former Solicitor General and
Minister of Public Safety and Security, Bob
Runciman, is outraged by the government’s
plan.
“Surprisingly while people in Toronto
are aghast by the brutal murder, they don’t
seem to realize that alleged murderers will
now come under the jurisdiction of the children’s
ministry if they are convicted,” said
Runciman, MPP for Leeds-Grenville.
In introducing the government’s plan
in the legislature this week, Minister Bountrogianni
said: “We will be focusing on helping
kids get their lives back on track and become
contributing members of society.”
“Transferring this responsibility from
the Ministry of Corrections to the Ministry
of Children’s Services is dumb and dangerous,”
said Runciman.
“The idea that 16 and 17-year-olds convicted
of serious crimes such as murder or rape are
some sort of unfortunate children is outrageous,’
Runciman said.
“One has to wonder how, under this ‘everyone’s
a victim approach’, the three teenagers
charged with first degree murder this week will
be treated, if convicted,” said Runciman.
The former Solicitor General urges the Liberal
government to reconsider the transfer, especially
for 16 and 17-year-olds.
“The government should forget its social
engineering and instead focus on family and
friends who have lost loved ones and had their
lives destroyed by violent, uncaring young criminals.
Media Contact:
Don Swayne
Executive Assistant
(416) 325-1522
(613) 342-9522
