Pubdate: Fri, 21 Apr 2006
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2006 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: John Alexander

PM EXPRESSED CLEAR PLAN

GORDON Sinclair, in his column, Is PM cleaning up justice, or  
trolling for votes? (April 20), states clearly what Stephen Harper  
stated and that is that conditional sentences should not be used for  
some criminals who have committed violent sexual, weapons or drugs  
offences to serve out their sentences at home. Mr. Sinclair then  
proceeds to document a conditional sentence handed out to a young man  
for three robberies wherein there was no drugs, violence or sexual  
overtones. Mr. Sinclair then tries unsuccessfully to link the young  
man's conditional sentence to the prime minister's call for fewer  
conditional sentences.

Mr. Sinclair, if you want conditional sentences for druggies, sexual  
predators and gun-slinging gang members, just come out and say so.  
Don't beat around the bush.

Mr. Harper was absolutely crystal clear in his intentions regarding  
crime and a speech to any group in society is definitely trolling for  
votes when a government is in a minority situation.

JOHN ALEXANDER, Winnipeg
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jackl