West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast MP John Reynolds has assumed "onerous" responsibilities as chief justice critic for the Official Opposition. Formerly the Reform Party’s fisheries critic, Reynolds says he is pleased to accept "the important and pervasive critic area." The anticipated changes to the Young Offenders Act, Reynolds says, will dictate his work-load and responsibilities. "Since the last election, Justice Minister Anne McLellan has promised changes," Reynolds said in a release. "The Minister repeatedly contends that ‘only a small number of youth’ are involved in serious crime... Clearly we have a problem with crime and it is time to deal with it. It is an issue that will form a great part of my work and I will not let the Minister off, or allow her to delay the required attention and changes to the definition of a young offender and how we deal with them." This is the second new post in the Reform shadow cabinet for Reynolds this year. Prior to becoming fisheries critic he was immigration critic. Reynolds says he "will work toward the Reform Party objective of repealing the current Young Offender Act and establishing a definition of juvenile offender within the Criminal Code." The Reform Party supports amending the Young Offenders Act so that it will: include only young offenders aged 10-15; serious offenders aged 14 and 15 and offenders 16 and over tried as adults. "The Reform Party will continue to work for a judicial system which places the punishment of crime and the protection of law-abiding citizens and their property ahead of all other objectives," Reynolds said.
