Pubdate: Tue, 24 Mar 2009
Source: Kings County Record (CN NK)
Page: A11
Column: Moore from Ottawa
Copyright: 2009 CanadaEast Interactive, Brunswick News Inc.
Contact: 
http://kingscorecord.canadaeast.com/onsite.php?page=contact&paper=record
Website: http://www.kingscorecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4656
Author: Rob Moore, Fundy Royal MP
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR SERIOUS DRUG CRIMES BEST WAY TO FIGHT GANGS

As part of our government's ongoing efforts to crack down on gangs 
and organized crime, we recently re-introduced legislation that 
provides for mandatory minimum penalties for serious drug crimes.

The illicit drug trade is the number one source of income for most 
gangs and other criminal organizations. This legislation will ensure 
that those who own grow ops or meth labs will face significant jail time.

The new legislation increases penalties for a number of aggravating 
factors. This includes a two-year mandatory prison sentence for the 
offence of running a large marijuana grow operation involving at 
least 500 plants and a two-year sentence for those who deal harmful 
drugs such as cocaine, heroin or crystal meth, to youth or near areas 
such as a school.

Furthermore, any drug offences involving weapons or violence will be 
subject to, at the very least, a one-year mandatory minimum sentence.

The new legislation also includes tougher penalties for trafficking 
GHB and other date-rape drugs. We feel it is absolutely necessary to 
strengthen the sentences for those who deal these drugs because all 
too often they are used to commit the worst kinds of crimes, most 
often against women. Our government is sending a message to dealers: 
if you engage in this behaviour, you will face serious consequences.

The best way to address organized crime is to cut off their source of 
income. This new legislation will ensure that those who are convicted 
of serious drug offences are kept off our streets, and that dealers 
are kept away from our children. The safety and security of Canadians 
is our government's foremost responsibility, and as the parliamentary 
secretary to the minister of justice, I will be working to ensure 
that these legislative protections are passed by Parliament as 
quickly as possible.

www.robmooremp.com

 ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom