Justice and Human Rights

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights met to study Bill C-231, an Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which aims to replace punitive approaches with early intervention focused on treatment and mental health for young people. The witnesses were Caroline Levesque, an early childhood educator and David's mother; Justine Berthold, a nurse and David's sister; and Angy Riendeau, a criminologist.

Caroline Levesque and Justine Berthold, speaking jointly, described how their son and brother David died by suicide in February 2025 after struggling with addiction and mental health issues. They argued that the justice system focuses on the offence rather than the underlying suffering, and that Bill C-231 would give judges, police, and other stakeholders real tools to refer young people to treatment programs before situations worsen. They asked the committee to support the bill, stating that if it helps just one young person or prevents one tragedy, it will have done its job.

Angy Riendeau, a criminologist, expressed sympathy for the family but cautioned that establishing substance abuse as a problem requiring treatment must be paired with careful expert assessment. She noted that most teens arrested are released without access to comprehensive assessments that would inform needs-based measures, and that the real problem is a lack of resources, not a lack of legislative tools. She pointed out that the Youth Criminal Justice Act already provides intervention options, such as conferences under section 19 and treatment orders under section 91, but these are underutilized. She disagreed with the premise that changing the law alone is the solution, arguing that without investments in specialized assessments, community services, and support for families, the bill's goals will not be achieved.

The committee then proceeded to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-231. The sponsor, MP Luc Berthold, moved several amendments, including broadening the bill's scope from "addiction treatment" to "problematic substance use treatment program," allowing extrajudicial sanctions to include such programs, and permitting a youth justice court to delay sentencing to enable attendance at a treatment program with the consent of the Attorney General and the young person. All amendments were adopted on division, and the bill, as amended, was reported to the House without further debate.