Pubdate: Wed, 11 Mar 2009
Source: Burlington Post (CN ON)
Column: My View
Copyright: 2009 Burlington Post
Contact:  http://www.burlingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528
Author: Mike Wallace
Note: Mike Wallace is the Conservative MP for the federal riding of Burlington.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?216 (CN Police)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

GETTING TOUGH ON CRIME

Criminals don't stop. They don't stop for constitutional emergencies. 
They don't stop for presidential visits and they certainly don't stop 
during global economic crises.

For a while, the media focus was off crime and onto the challenges 
facing Canada during these troubling economic times. But recent 
examples of extreme gang violence in British Columbia are a stark 
reminder that the safety of Canadian families requires constant 
vigilance. We cannot afford to take the security of law abiding 
citizens for granted.

We are very fortunate to be living in Burlington. According to 
Maclean's magazine's 2009 Most Dangerous Cities list, Halton has been 
named the safest regional municipality in Canada and the safest place 
to live in the GTA. Congratulations to our Halton police for its hard 
work in keeping our community safe. However, there is more work to be done.

Criminal gangs have been growing in power and scope and our 
government is taking meaningful action. The rights of the victims 
have been ignored in the past while the plight of the criminals was 
all that seemed to matter. Since taking office, the Conservative 
government has made great strides toward improving our ability to 
prevent crime, apprehend criminals and prosecute them accordingly. 
But there is more to do.

Last week, we introduced new legislation that will crack down on 
gang-related drug trafficking and violence. These new laws will mean 
mandatory prison sentences for anyone convicted of organized crime 
related to drug trafficking or weapons offences. Judges will be able 
to impose mandatory prison terms for crimes where drugs are sold to 
children or where sales are made near schools or places that children 
are often found. The new laws will also raise the maximum penalties 
for producing illegal drugs from 7-14 years. In addition, murders 
connected to gangs and organized crime will be automatically 
classified as first-degree. These new laws build on our previous 
actions to keep Canadians safe. Since first being elected in 2006, 
the Conservative government has taken strong, deliberate action to 
protect our streets and neighbourhoods. We've delivered 1,500 new 
RCMP officers and are working with the provinces and municipalities 
toward hiring 2,500 new municipal police officers. We took action 
with laws for mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes. We 
introduced tougher laws to keep gun criminals off our streets and 
tougher sentences for repeat violent offenders. Our Tackling Violent 
Crime Act became law early last year. I have been fully supportive of 
this act to make Burlington a safer community.

Criminals don't stop and neither will our government. This new action 
to fight gang crime and protect law abiding Canadians will build on 
our previous actions to deliver safer communities across the country.

For additional information, please contact my office at  or 905-639-5757.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom