Pubdate: Wed, 28 May 2008
Source: Red Deer Express (CN AB)
Copyright: 2008 Red Deer Express
Contact:  http://www.reddeerexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2920
Author: Bob Mills (MP for Red Deer)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

FEDS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT TACKLING VIOLENT CRIME

All Canadians deserve to live in safe neighbourhoods. In recent years 
the public's attention has focused on the rising scourge of gang, gun 
and drug violence that paralyzes too many neighbourhoods.

These problems are very real and deserve real action. As of May 1, 
three new laws from the government's Tackling Violent Crime Act went 
into effect. The age of sexual consent has been officially increased 
from 14 to 16.

Individuals charged with gun crimes will find it much more difficult 
to get bail and criminals who are convicted of gun offences will face 
stiff mandatory minimum sentences.

For parents worried about sexual predators and families worried about 
rising gang and gun violence, this good news is long overdue.

But there are other people threatening the safety of Canadian 
neighbourhoods and that is why our government is cracking down on 
other kinds of criminals.

Impaired drivers, whether you are drunk or stoned, pose a threat to 
innocent people. The government has put in place tough new laws that 
make it easier to catch drug-impaired drivers and hold them 
accountable for their actions.

Identity thieves were getting off free as Canada's laws were out of 
date. The government is modernizing Canada's identity theft laws to 
make these conartists easier to catch and convict.

Drug dealers now face tough new drug crime laws. We are ensuring that 
those who produce or sell illegal drugs face mandatory jail time.

We are also investing in more police so that grow-ops, meth-labs and 
other drug producers will be busted before they do more harm.

It is more important than ever that Canada's government takes real 
leadership, avoids partisan shenanigans and continues to deliver the 
tough new laws that Canadians need and deserve.

There is still a lot of work to do, but I am proud of the progress we 
have made so far and Canadians can count on even safer neighbourhoods 
in the future.

Until next time. . .
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom