Pubdate: Wed, 07 Mar 2012
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608

CRIME BILL SET TO PASS BEFORE TORIES MARK BEING IN POWER FOR 100 DAYS

After months of acrimonious debate, the controversial omnibus crime 
bill is poised to clear a final hurdle Wednesday before becoming law.

The Safe Streets and Communities Act returned to the House of Commons 
Tuesday for one last debate after several minor amendments were 
approved by the Senate in relation to the State Immunity Act and the 
ability of terrorism victims to sue their perpetrators.

The government promised to pass the bill within 100 sitting days of 
the 41st Parliament and Postmedia News has learned the final vote on 
C-10 is expected to happen late Wednesday, 10 days before the Harper 
Conservatives will mark that milestone.

Should all go as planned, it will also take place hours after Justice 
Minister Rob Nicholson joins former NHLer and child sex abuse victim 
Sheldon Kennedy in Woodbridge, Ont., for one final public relations splash.

The hockey star testified before a Senate committee last month in 
support of the bill's provision for mandatory minimum sentences for 
child sex offenders.

Kennedy has become a victims' advocate since coming forward with his 
own story of sexual assault. He and fellow NHLer Theoren Fleury were 
both abused by their junior hockey coach, Graham James, who pleaded 
guilty in December.

James will be sentenced later this month and Kennedy has raised 
concerns that his abuser may only get house arrest.

A hodgepodge of nine justice bills, most of which were defeated in 
previous Parliaments when the Conservatives were in minority, Bill 
C-10 also sets minimum mandatory sentences for drug trafficking and 
production, eliminates house arrest for a number of offences and 
cracks down on young offenders, Canadians imprisoned abroad and those 
seeking pardons.

NDP justice critic Jack Harris launched a one-man filibuster Tuesday 
in a final bid to reiterate his party's concerns with the bill.

"I guess I'll have to end at some point, but I'm not sure when," 
Harris said after question period, noting he will continue speaking 
to the bill on Wednesday, but is unlikely to keep it up for 10 days 
in order to "throw (the Tories) off their agenda."

- - Postmedia News
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom