FEDS SUIT UP FOR CRIME BILL BATTLE

In almost every neighbourhood, there is a marijuana grow op.

In almost every community, there is a meth lab.

And when police raid these operations, high-powered guns are usually
part of the seizure.

While police may do their part, the justice system doesn't do its
part as most raids and seizures take place without consequences to
the perpetrators, said federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, who
was in B.C. last week to talk about the Conservative government's
proposed 'Tackling Violent Crime Act.'

"When people see these offenders back on the street, when neighbours
see the people who had the meth lab back living at the house, it
sends the wrong message," Nicholson said in an exclusive interview
with Black Press.

Nicholson said his government is so determined to see changes to how
Canada's justice system handles its most dangerous and prolific
offenders that the Conservative party is willing to take it to a
confidence vote.

"We are bringing this before Parliament and any attempt to sabotage
that [justice] bill is a confidence measure - that's how serious we
are," said Nicholson.

He was touring B.C. along with Prime Minister Stephen Harper last
week to drum up support for the crime bill that would see mandatory
sentences for possession of weapons and violent offences while
keeping dangerous offenders and sexual predators behind bars. And he
recognizes it is Ontario, not B.C., where support for the bill is needed.

"The opposition laughed at us last time we introduced these bills.
This time we've upped the ante," he said. "Right now, we are trying
to build public support from coast to coast."

While the Tackling Violent Crime Act doesn't address issues around
marijuana grow ops and meth labs, the feds plan to introduce such
crime legislation soon, he said.

"The legislation will deal directly with grow ops and meth labs,
trafficking and importing, but we do expect opposition on that."

When asked why it seems judges in Ontario hand out stiffer sentences
than judges in B.C., he wouldn't comment. But he did say that the new
justice bills will create stricter guidelines for judges to follow.

"There is going to be mandatory jail time for various offences and we
will be providing guidelines for minimum sentences. Right now, judges
only have maximum sentencing guidelines and no minimums."

getting tougher

If adopted into law, the Tackling Violent Crime Act would create
mandatory jail sentences for convicted offenders who use guns in a
violent crime.

It would also create tougher bail provisions, putting the onus on the
offender to prove why he or she should be released.

The act would also create tougher sentencing and management of sexual
and violent offenders. For example, if a person were convicted of a
violent sexual assault using a knife, that person could more easily
be designated a dangerous offender, putting him in jail for life.

The proposed legislation would also change the age of sexual consent
from 14 to 16 and it would give police better tools to detect and
investigate drug- and alcohol-impaired driving and increase penalties
if charged.

If this bill is adopted, drivers suspected of being impaired would
have to do a roadside test. If they fail, they would have to provide
a blood or urine sample to confirm whether they consumed drugs.