Senator Boisvenu: Senator, you used a word that made what little hair I have left stand on end a bit. You said that you trust that judges aren’t handing out conditional sentences like candy, but that’s what they’re doing. Eighty per cent of men charged with spousal abuse receive a conditional sentence. This bill will ensure that 90% of men will receive a conditional sentence. What message does it send to society to say, “Men, if you beat your wife for 10 years, you’ll get to serve two years at home,” knowing that 40% of offenders don’t comply with their conditions? Then they can get closer to their wives.

Don’t you think that’s what’s already happening when you say “candy”?

[English]