FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STILL TRYING TO GET TOUGH ON CRIME

Hard-working Canadians in our constituency, focusing on the
challenges their families face during the global economic crisis,
have been distracted by recent examples of extreme gang violence in
British Columbia.

This has come as a stark reminder that the safety of our communities
requires constant vigilance.

During my years serving as an Official Opposition critic for the
Justice, Public Safety and Solicitor General portfolios, I asked many
questions in the House of Commons and in committees about the lax
attitude of the Liberals that, over more than a decade, allowed
Canada's justice system to decline. Police forces were underfunded.
Laws and punishments were outdated and did not fit the crimes being committed.

Since forming government in 2006, our Conservative government has
tried to strengthen Canada's criminal justice system to better
protect and serve Canadian individuals and businesses. We delivered
1,500 new RCMP officers and are working with the provinces and
municipalities towards hiring 2,500 new municipal police officers. We
have already passed laws providing mandatory minimum sentences for
gun crimes; tougher laws to keep gun criminals off the streets and
tougher sentences for repeat violent offenders. Many of you will
recall the long battle we had with the Liberals to pass our Tackling
Violent Crime Act that became law early last year.

Our Government continues to introduce new tools to fight street gangs
and other forms of organized crime. Bill 14, an Act to Amend the
Criminal Code (organized crime and protection of justice system
participants) targets gang violence and other serious crime. It will
provide law enforcement officials and the justice system with better
means to address organized crime-related activities, in particular
gang murders and drive-by shootings.

If passed by Parliament, our proposals will make murders connected to
organized crime activity automatically first-degree; create a new
offence to address drive-by and other reckless shootings; and, create
two new offences of aggravated assault against a peace or public
officer and assault with a weapon on a peace or public officer. Each
of these measures includes longer incarceration times.

Bill C-15 proposes amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances
Act and would impose mandatory jail time for producing and selling
illegal drugs. This Bill allows us to fight back by targeting the
drug crimes committed by gangs and organized crime. We are
establishing special penalties when offences are carried out for
organized crime purposes or if they target youth.

At the same time, Bill C-15 allows a Drug Treatment Court to suspend
a sentence while the addicted accused person takes an approved
treatment program. If the person successfully completes the program,
the court normally imposes a suspended or reduced sentence. These
courts include a blend of judicial supervision, incentives for
reduced drug use, social services support, and sanctions for non-compliance.

No part of our society is immune to the menace of organized crime
activities. Members of families and communities have to cope with the
lethal impact of illicit drugs. Even in our own province we have seen
serious and violent gang, gun and drug related criminal activity in
Calgary and Edmonton. The effects creep into our constituency. Our
Conservative government remains committed to providing tough laws to
make our streets and communities more secure by going after the criminals.