Pubdate: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers Contact: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531 Author: Ron Seymour TORIES NOT DONE YET WITH GANGS The federal government plans to introduce more laws to tackle organized crime and gang violence, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said Saturday in Kelowna. However, he acknowledged the minority Conservative government won't get the laws passed without the support of the opposition parties, which Nicholson suggested have been lukewarm on new crime-fighting initiatives. "I'm hoping these born-again crime fighters from the other parties are going to give us their support," Nicholson said in an interview. He said the Liberals and New Democrats tend to endorse laws that provide for longer sentences during election campaigns, but then resist their introduction in the House of Commons. "I need their help between elections, not just during the campaigns," said Nicholson, who was in Kelowna to address a fundraising dinner for Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan. Although the Conservatives describe themselves as a law-and-order government, B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal said last month he was "disappointed" that Ottawa would not commit itself to swiftly making certain legislative changes Oppal said were necessary to stem rampant gang violence in Metro Vancouver. Among other things, Oppal has called for the federal wiretap law to be changed to make it easier for police to intercept cellphone and other electronic conversations between gang members, the elimination of a provision that grants double credit for custodial time that was served before a trial and for updating of disclosure laws so trials proceed more quickly. Nicholson said he "listened very closely" to what Oppal had to say, but wouldn't indicate whether or not he supported such legislative changes. "I don't get ahead of myself with announcements," Nicholson said. However, he said addressing the surge in gang activity is a priority for the government and referred to changes already introduced by the Conservatives. The government last month proposed changes to the Criminal Code to give mandatory minimum sentences to drug traffickers who are linked to gangs. As well, all gang-related murder cases would be prosecuted as first-degree, people convicted of running a marijuana operation with more than 500 plants would face a minimum of two years in jail, and those who exported or imported drugs would face longer sentences. The legal changes are not designed to target people who "take a toke on a Saturday night," Nicholson said, though he added the government would not be taking any steps toward the legalization of marijuana. The Conservatives claim their approach is not to punish those who are addicted to drugs, saying addicts can choose drug courts and treatment over jail. While criminologists often say tougher laws are not, in and of themselves, sufficient for reducing crime, Nicholson said he believes longer sentences do achieve important results in sending the message that crime will not be tolerated. "I have heard from people in law enforcement who say that if you get some of these people off the streets, you can break up gang activity," he said, "and there are fewer victims as well." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin