MAYOR PUSHES FOR TOUGH CRIME LAWS

SURREY - City Mayor Dianne Watts is pushing for tougher crime
legislation following the slaying of six men in a Whalley apartment
and other high-profile incidents in the Lower Mainland.

Watts met in Ottawa on Tuesday with Public Safety Minister Stockwell
Day, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, Liberal leader Stephane Dion and
NDP leader Jack Layton to discuss gang violence and drugs.

She wants tougher penalties for restricted firearms offences and drug
trafficking; consecutive sentencing for multiple homicides; federal
funding for anti-gang police resources, drug-gang education and
prevention programs.

The meeting was set up following the murder of the six men -- two of
them described as being in the "wrong place at the wrong time" --
during a targeted attack in unit 1505 of the Balmoral Tower at 9830
East Whalley Ring Rd. on Oct. 19.

The four other men had previously been charged with various offences,
mainly relating to drug trafficking and weapons.

Watts has said the mass slaying indicates a growing trend in the Lower
Mainland in which public safety is being threatened by gangland-style
warfare. In the past few years, she said, 90 young Indo-Canadian men
have died as a direct result of drug and gang violence.

"The issues of gang and drug violence continue to affect communities
across this country," she said in a press release.