Pubdate: Mon, 21 Dec 2009
Source: Morden Times (CN MB)
Contact: http://www.mordentimes.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx
Copyright: 2009 Sun Media
Website: http://www.mordentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3730
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

MP SAYS SENATE AMENDMENTS OF CRIME BILL PUT SAFETY OF CHILDREN AT RISK

OTTAWA, ON - Candice Hoeppner, Member of Parliament for 
Portage-Lisgar, is dismayed the Liberal-dominated Senate amended a 
bill targeting people who sell drugs to kids, once again weakening 
the Conservative government's action to get tough on crime.

The Liberal-dominated Senate voted recently to remove the mandatory 
minimum sentence requirement for some drug offenders from Bill C-15.

The bill would have cracked down on criminals by ensuring mandatory 
jail time for serious drug offences that involve organized crime, 
violence, or preying on youth.

"Michael Ignatieff needs to explain to Canadians why his Liberal 
Senators gutted this important piece of anti-crime legislation," 
Hoeppner stated.

"Mr. Ignatieff keeps saying that he is tough on crime, but time after 
time, when it comes down to it, he's not supporting our measures to 
tackle crime, and he's putting the safety of children at risk as a result."

Under the legislation, persons found guilty of trafficking who also 
had previous drug convictions would have received a minimum one-year 
prison term.

With the new amendments of the Senate, mandatory terms would apply 
only if the offender had spent a year or more behind bars for their 
previous conviction.

Hoeppner noted that the Senate amendments mean that people 
trafficking in up to 200 marijuana plants don't face mandatory jail time.

"Our legislation would have had a significant impact at street-level 
in targeting those individuals who sell drugs to kids - often gateway 
drugs like marijuana that lead to increased drug use."

"Our government remains concerned about drug use, and we will 
continue to do whatever it takes to overcome Liberal soft-on-crime 
ideology and partisan gamesmanship to keep Canadian families and 
children safe," Hoeppner concluded.
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