Pubdate: Tue, 28 Feb 2012
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Jordan Press, Postmedia News 

CRIME BILL HEADS BACK TO COMMONS

The federal government's omnibus crime bill will be heading back to
the House of Commons after senators approved changes to Bill C-10
early Monday.

The changes, proposed by Ontario Conservative Sen. Bob Runciman, were
approved easily, but changes Liberal senators wanted to the Safe
Streets and Communities Act received a tougher ride, including a
failed proposal to raise the number of marijuana plants one could
legally grow to 20 from six.

The Conservative senators on the Senate legal affairs committee used
their majority to reject all 17 changes the Liberals proposed.

Liberal senators also raised concerns about provisions in C-10 that
could hit aboriginals harder than others, but Tories on the committee
said the bill focused on crime regardless of who was
responsible.

"If they're trafficking, they know what they're doing," said
Conservative Sen. Daniel Lang.

Lang said victims believe there has been a miscarriage of justice over
the last few years, and it was time to change that by having
politicians set "the moral compass" for law and order.

The Liberals unsuccessfully proposed changes to the drug laws in the
bill, including increasing to 20 from six the number of marijuana
plants required to be charged with trafficking.

"I'm concerned that when we pass a bill that ... people will believe
their streets and communities will be safer and I'm not convinced
that's the case," Liberal Sen. James Cowan said.

Cowan said there are some Tory senators who are critical of the bill
and may vote with the opposition Liberals when the Senate as a whole
debates Bill C-10 on Wednesday.

Liberal Sen. Joan Fraser said police told the committee they were
unlikely to hunt down Canadians growing as few as six marijuana plants
and would focus instead on large producers. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.