PM'S TOUGH CRIME STANCE PANNED

Drug-Related Crime Main Problem Here

Anti-crime measures proposed by the Conservative party were roundly
criticized on the weekend by local candidates who called for more
crime-prevention programs and less incarceration.

In Orillia, the main issue related to crime is drugs, said criminal
lawyer Carl Garland, who said more funding and facilities are most
needed.

"We really need intensive drug-rehabilitation programs to confront
this. If Orillians really want to avoid crime, that's what we've got
to do," he said.

Drug addiction comes hand-in-hand with mental health issues, which is
why Garland feels the Conservatives' "general deterrence" measures --
stiffer penalties -- won't solve the problem locally.

"I just don't see how these people are generally deterred in any way,"
he said. "When they want that fix of cocaine or crack, they're not
thinking, 'Oh, my sentence is going to go up.'"

All opposition candidates claim the government has not done enough to
ensure adequate social and prevention programs.

"If they have these programs... these kids will see other
opportunities instead of get into the drug culture and gang culture,"
said Liberal candidate Steve Clarke. "I'd like to know what Mr.
Harper's plan is for incarceration spaces."

The Green party candidate, Valerie Powell, also called for more
alternative options to the court system, like restorative justice,
which brings all affected parties -- including the culprits --
together to determine some kind of restitution.

"That would bring it back to the community level and it would also
prevent minor crimes from tying up expensive court resources," said
Powell, who has worked with addicts.

The majority of people who commit drug-related crimes can be helped,
New Democrat Richard Banigan believes, but they need the resources.

"There's always going to be a minority of people we can't help, but
that doesn't mean we shouldn't invest in the majority that can be
helped," said Banigan, who has also worked in the addictions field.

The Conservatives recognize the need for balance and have a plan to
back it up, said incumbent MP Bruce Stanton.

"On one hand, there should be deterrents through significant
consequences and penalties for stepping over the line," he said, "but,
at the same time, one recognizes that you have to invest in prevention
as well."

His party is also proposing to increase to $10 million funding for
prevention programs, he added.

"We all recognize that the people who fall into that life come from,
usually, lower economic circumstances," he said.

"We have to be doing what we can to give people opportunities to get
out of that kind of life."

Some local candidates said Harper is playing politics by suggesting
criminals as young as 14 should be able to be named publicly and be
eligible for a life sentence upon conviction of first-or second-degree
murder.

"It's a mean-spirited attempt to energize the redneck vote. (Harper's)
pandering to other ignoramuses in society who don't have a clue."

- --Richard Banigan, NDP candidate for Simcoe North

A recent Canadian Press study indicated a dramatic spike in weapons
charges in Orillia and area.

Although "some of that has to do with reporting anomalies," Stanton
said his party is concerned about a "distressing" number of incidents
related to illegal firearms -- not just locally, but nationwide.

"It's one of the reasons why we bumped up greater deterrents for
firearms-related crimes. This is where the safety of residents in the
community has to trump rights of the criminal," Stanton said.

"I know there are people -- criminologists, academics and others --
that would refute that conclusion, but I believe that kind of
sentiment is completely out of step with the feelings of people in our
community," Stanton added.

Powell said the Conservative proposals are an attempt to generate
fear.

"The message is fear, and I think that the experts have responded to
that by saying that violent crime is actually down," she said.

Harper has painted his opponents as being soft on crime, but a Liberal
government would put $45 million toward anti-violence and gang
prevention, Clarke noted.

"Public safety is No. 1, but stiffer penalties are not enough," he
said.

"I want to get smart on crime, not just tough on crime."

But it was the opposition parties that "watered down" crime
legislation during the last session, said Stanton.

"They removed a lot of the violent crimes that we initially wanted to
be ineligible for conditional sentences or house arrests," including
kidnapping and impaired driving causing bodily harm or death.

Regardless, Garland said, the needs of Orillia are simple: "We need
money and facilities."