Pubdate: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 Source: North Bay Nugget (CN ON) Copyright: 2007 North Bay Nugget Contact: http://www.nugget.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2226 GREENING AND GUNS Prime Minister Stephen Harper is gearing up for an election and Canadians are going to hear a lot about crime and punishment. None of the Conservatives' proposed crime control laws have been passed in the year since the party assumed power. The Tories are busy "greening" themselves lately, but what's been billed as a "mini throne speech," Harper has been out stumping his platform - tax cuts, tough crime laws and warning that without his party in power, Canada would be "a country where the streets are ruled by guns, gangs and drugs." We doubt Canadians are buying into the rhetoric. Canada's streets will never be ruled by gangs and guns. A few cities, including Toronto, have been plagued by gang problems, but the country is not about to sink into anarchy. Still, more needs to be done to combat gun crime in Canada. Mandatory sentences for those who use guns while committing crimes are a good start. But opposition critics are also correct when they state the government needs to tackle the causes of crime - poverty, illiteracy and a breakdown in social support for the underprivileged. As well, there needs to be greater control over smuggling. The majority of gun crimes committed in Canada are with illegal weapons, most of them handguns smuggled from the United States. The federal gun registry - still in existence after a Conservative pledge to kill it - has done little to control gun crime. That's because it targets legal guns owners most of who are hunters. As for drugs, the Liberals were moving in the right direction when they considered decriminalizing simple possession of marijuana. Prohibition of this substance, no more dangerous than alcohol, has continued to fuel the profits of organized crime. The Conservatives are naive if they think any crime and punishment policy will be effective without considering a change in current drug legislation. Polls indicate a majority of Canadians support decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana. Police and court resources should be targeted at more dangerous substances such as crack cocaine and so-called designer drugs. Harper is also promising financial breaks on fuel-efficient cars. This was actually a New Democratic Party promise several years ago. If the Tories are sincere, it's a positive step. But what took so long? Harper's latest strategy is more general than the last election campaign, promising stronger democratic institutions - there has been little accomplished on parliamentary and senate reform - a stronger federation - whatever that means - a stronger economy and more effective foreign policy. It's refreshing to hear Harper has changed his tune on climate change, promising targets for industry and accepting the fact science has proven greenhouse gases are bad for the environment. Get set for more rhetoric from all federal parties. We may be at the ballot box sooner than we think even though polls show most of us would rather stay home. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek