CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT CRACKS DOWN ON CRIME

Our government is taking action to protect the safety and security of
our communities. We are standing up for victims of crime and putting
the rights of law-abiding citizens ahead of the rights of criminals.

We passed the Tackling Violent Crime Act, which implemented measures
to better protect youth from sexual predators, put serious penalties
in place to fight impaired driving, and toughened sentencing and bail
for those convicted of serious gun crimes.

In addition, the government passed legislation to end conditional
sentences for serious personal injury offences, including sexual
assault, and we brought forth measures to increase penalties for those
convicted of street racing.

We established the National Anti-Drug Strategy to reduce the supply of
and demand for illicit drugs in Canada. As well, to support victims,
we created the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime.

Our government has also introduced legislation to make sure that after
offenders are convicted, the rights of victims and their families are
put first.

Our initiatives would keep victims and their families informed of any
reasons for an offender's temporary absence from a correctional
facility and of the reasons for an offender's transfer with, whenever
possible, advance notice of a transfer to a minimum security
institution. Information on offender program participation and
convictions for serious disciplinary offences would also be released.

Moreover, the legislation stipulates that if offenders withdraw their
participation fourteen days or less before a parole hearing date, the
Parole Board can still proceed with a review and decision of the case.
This means that victims will no longer travel long distances to attend
a parole hearing which is then cancelled at the last minute.

Our Conservative government is taking decisive action to fight crime
and keep Canadians safe. We hope that all of the parties working with
us in Ottawa will support us in our endeavors.