OTTAWA VOWS TO TOUGHEN LAWS AGAINST GANGS

VANCOUVER -- Canada's Justice Minister visited gang-stressed
Vancouver yesterday, promising a renewed attack on drug dealers,
including stiffer prison sentences.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson touted proposed amendments to the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act even as, back in Ottawa, the
legislation was being tabled in Parliament. The measures have
national relevance, but it was clear they have special resonance in a
region that has seen 18 gang-related shootings in the last month,
eight of them fatal.

Before an audience of senior police officers gathered at the B.C.
headquarters of the RCMP, Mr. Nicholson said the legislation, which
died as a result of the last federal election, would include
mandatory minimum sentences for serious drug crimes.

He cast the plan as an attack on illegal drug activity that generates
cash for the gangs - there are thought to be more than 120 now
operating in British Columbia.

"Drugs, we know, is the currency of gangs and organized crime," the
minister said. "These activities lead to more crime, more gang
violence on our streets, and more risk to law-enforcement officers.
They are also a significant source of illicit money for gangs and
organized groups."

He drew a distinction between punishing "serious drug offenders" and
addicts "who may commit some crimes to support their habit," noting
that the legislation would allow a Drug Treatment Court to suspend a
sentence while addicted defendants take approved treatment programs.

The legislation, originally tabled in November, 2007, includes a
mandatory one-year prison sentence for dealing drugs such as
marijuana when carried out for organized-crime purposes, or when
weapons and violence are involved.

Also included is a two-year mandatory prison sentence for dealing
such drugs as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines to youth, or
dealing those drugs near a school or in an area frequented by youth.

Mr. Nicholson acknowledged the added jail time might not deter
hardened gang members inclined to violence, but added, "We have to
start somewhere." He said he hoped judges might go further in sentencing.

"What we want to do is get some of these people off the street. We
want to break this gang-related activity, and getting these people
off the street and serving sentences assists in breaking up this
organized crime activity," he said.

Mr. Nicholson's visit came a day after Prime Minister Stephen Harper
flew into Vancouver, touting his government's crime-fighting
credentials and meeting with police and the families of victims of
gangland violence.

At the same time, Mr. Nicholson, in Ottawa, was outlining other
anti-gang legislation that includes measures to ensure homicides tied
to organized crime carry a first-degree murder charge, and stiffer
penalties for drive-by shootings.

He promised additional, unspecified anti-crime measures.

"Believe me, we're not done yet," he said.

Ujjal Dosanjh, the Vancouver South Liberal MP designated to speak on
gangs for the opposition, said his party would support the
legislation. "There is a consensus developing across the country that
you need to be tougher on sentencing," he said.

But he called on the government to go further with programs aimed at
crime prevention, addiction support and providing additional police officers.

Mr. Nicholson said he was hoping for consistent opposition support
for the proposals outlined this week, and others coming.

"I want their support, but I want their support not just for this
week," he said.

"... It has to be a sustained kind of support. We need help fighting
crime between elections."

Mr. Dosanjh rejected allegations of Liberal reservations. "They want
people to believe the lie that we don't support being tough on crime," he said.

Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu, offering his support for the
proposals, said gang members need to fear being caught and sentenced.
"We need the criminal justice system to strike fear in the hearts of
gang members," he said.