TORIES PUSH CRIME AGENDA

OTTAWA-The crime rate in Canada remains "unacceptably high" and the
federal Conservatives are "just getting started" on their measures to
tackle it, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says.

The justice minister yesterday defended the Tories' move to mandatory
sentences, saying it's vital to send a message to criminals involved
in drugs and guns. And he made clear that the Conservatives intend to
take further action to tackle crime in the country.

The Conservatives campaigned on a law-and-order agenda in the last
election and in recent months have implemented legislation dictating
longer minimum sentences for some drug and gun crimes.

A recent Star series, titled Crime and Punishment, raised questions
about the effectiveness of such sentences. The series profiled several
U.S. jurisdictions, suggesting that mandatory minimums result in
prison overcrowding and drive correctional costs up, but provide
little deterrence to would-be criminals.

That has led to calls for greater investments in social and
neighbourhoods programs for at-risk youth, counselling for addicts and
other steps to curb the causes of crime.

Yesterday, Nicholson made no apologies for his government's crime
reforms. "Crime rates are unacceptably high in Canada and we are
prepared to do something about it," Nicholson said after touring a
youth detention centre in Ottawa.

"I can tell you we're all alone in that as a political party and as a
government. I get no support from the other political parties. ...
It's not a priority with them," he said.

"It is a priority with us. ... We're just getting started,"

Asked whether mandatory sentences were a deterrent, Nicholson said
such sentences convey a message criminals need to hear.

"We're sending out the right message, I think, when we're telling them
you'll spend five years in a federal penitentiary and if you don't get
the message the first time, it'll be seven years the second time," he
said.

"It's a message that we want to get out very clearly to people - don't
get involved with gun crimes, don't get involved with drugs. ... If
you do, you will pay the price."

Without mandatory sentences, Nicholson suggested that convicted
criminals would be causing trouble on the streets of Canadian cities.

"What are the costs when those people are not being detained? There is
a cost to society when an individual who should be detained is not.
That costs Canadian taxpayers and it certainly costs Canadian
victims," he said.

The Tory government's Tackling Violent Crime Act became law on May 1,
increasing the minimum sentences for gun-related crimes. For crimes
such as attempted murder, sexual assault and robbery, including
possession of a loaded firearm, an offender is facing a minimum term
of three years for a first offence, up from one year, and five years
for second offence.

While Canada's crime rate has dropped more than 25 per cent in the
last 15 years, Nicholson said his government is only responding to
public demand to do more.

"People say `violent youth crime is stable.' Well, I can tell you that
is unacceptable to Canadians and we have indicated to Canadians that
we are prepared to do something about it," he said. "We don't govern
by statistics in our government. We're governing by what we told and
promised Canadians."

The federal Liberals said yesterday that crime reforms "should be
based on strong evidence - not ideology" and accused the Tories of
putting partisan politics ahead of the safety of Canadians.

A Liberal spokesperson also noted the party supported the Tories'
crime bill, despite Nicholson's claim that the opposition was against
the law-and-order platform.

The justice minister toured the William E. Hay Centre, a 24-bed
residential youth facility, where he spoke with administrators and
offenders themselves as part of his consultations for changes to the
Youth Criminal Justice Act.

While the changes are expected to toughen sentencing for youths
involved in serious crime, Nicholson also said that rehabilitation is
critical for offenders of all ages.

"Rehabilitation has to be an essential component of detaining any
individual," Nicholson said.

"One of the things that would impress you if you took a tour of this
place is the recognition that young people have to have these skills.
They have to have training. They need education to be able to cope
with life on the outside," he said.

He said that point was stressed by youths during his
visit.

"All want to get ahead. They all emphasize the importance of getting a
high school education, of getting a diploma," he said. "They want to
come out of a facility like this and have some skills, have some
training, and certainly an education will keep them in good stead."