'SAFE' REPUTATION BEING TESTED: MINISTER

Gang Violence

Federal Justice Minister Robert Nicholson said violent crimes, gangs,
drugs and guns have put Canada's "prosperous and safe" reputation to
the test. Speaking to the Vancouver Board of Trade yesterday,
Nicholson said his government would try again to pass several
justice-related bills that failed in the last session by creating an
omnibus bill, which, if defeated, could trigger an election.

The bills, which include the new Tackling Violent Crime Act, would
raise the age of consent from 14 to 16, create broader designations
for dangerous offenders and add measures to ensure mandatory jail
time for gun offences and drug crimes.

"We must remain committed to tackling violent crime," Nicholson said.
"We believe Canadians are tired of just talk on crime. They want to
see decisive action."

Nicholson hopes that mandatory jail time will be part of the solution
to end Vancouver's gang war.

"If [criminals] don't get the message after five years in a federal
penitentiary, second time around, it's seven years in a federal
penitentiary," he said.

"We're going to make it tougher to get bail on a gun crime."

The federal Tories will also introduce legislation to fight identity
theft and property crime, and add changes to the Youth Criminal
Justice Act to "broaden" judicial considerations when sentencing
young offenders, Nicholson said.

"We're going to be also targeting drugs in this country," he said.

"We understand that prevention and treatment has to be part of every
program to deal with this very difficult problem."