PM Supports New Crime Bills

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says public supports tough new crime bills
Thu Feb 26, 2:10 PM
By The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says strong penalties deter crime and changes to the Criminal Code proposed by his government will toughen the criminal justice system in Canada.

Harper says the Conservatives expect criticism but that the public supports the measures introduced by his justice minister Thursday in Ottawa.
"We got elected because we know the people of Canada want us to take a tougher stand on crime, want us to deal toughly with those who perpetrate these crimes," Harper said in Vancouver, where there have been 18 shootings in the past month in an ongoing gang war.

The government has introduced new legislation that would label gang killings as first-degree murder, carrying a sentence of at least 25 years without parole.
The bill introduced by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson would also create a new offence and a minimum jail term for drive-by shootings. Such attacks would carry a minimum sentence of four years in prison and a maximum of 14 years.

The anti-crime strategy, and British Columbia's eagerness for it, have offered Harper some respite form the ongoing economic crisis hitting the country.
Still, critics say the tough-on-crime strategy is not effective in reducing crime. Harper disagreed.

"Look, we know we're going to hear these critics. We know we're going to hear the Opposition parrot some of these critics because they all believe in soft-on-crime policies," Harper told reporters.

He said the reforms introduced by the justice minister are among many the Conservatives are looking at.

Another section of the legislation creates new offences for aggravated assault against a police officer and assault with a weapon against a police officer, both carrying 14-year sentences under the proposed new law.

"We will not tolerate attacks on police or peace officers," Nicholson said in Ottawa.

Charles Momy, head of the Canadian Police Association, welcomed the legislation.

"We all know that front-line police officers . . . have to deal with the influx of gangs across this country," he said. "They certainly appear to have run amok."
Other sections of the bill would get tough on people who try to intimidate witnesses.

The legislation follows a public outcry about a rash of gang-related violence in British Columbia.

Nicholson said it's time to crack down.

"We are moving forward on our justice agenda to address the impact of gangs and organized crime on Canadian families and society," he said.
He also said more measures may come: "We're not done yet."
He said he wants gangsters to take note of the latest measures.
"They send out a very clear message about the seriousness with which we take gang activity," he said. "This kind of activity, this kind of behaviour, will not be tolerated."

Although the Conservative government pushed crime legislation through the last Parliament by making it a matter of confidence - threatening an election if the Opposition voted No - the minister said the current bill will not be a confidence measure.

"I'm hoping that this will get the support of all political parties."
(The more people we can incarcerate the better, right? Then we can build and privatize more jails. Anyone ever thought about increasing minimum wages, social supports and services? Ever thought of improvingliving conditions? Guess not.)-W