LIBERALS RETHINK MANDATORY DRUG TIME

Continued Support for Controversial Bill Not 'A Sure Bet,' MP Says

(CNS) The opposition Liberals say they are rethinking their support
for a federal bill on mandatory jail terms for drug crimes, after
they voted with the Conservative government to pass the proposed
legislation last year for fear of being labelled as soft on crime.

The drug-sentencing bill, which for the first time would impose
incarceration terms of at least six months for growing six or more
marijuana plants, and one year or longer for selling drugs, died when
Prime Minister Stephen Harper prorogued Parliament in December.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson resurrected his proposed legislation this month.

Liberal MP Brian Murphy, co-chair of the House of Commons justice
committee, said the party's continued support for the widely
criticized bill is not "a sure bet." He said the Liberals want more
information about the effect that automatic jail terms for
drug-related crimes would have on young people.

The party also questions whether the initiative is worth the
anticipated cost of jailing more people for longer.

"Maybe there is an argument that the law, as written, is a little too
harsh," said Murphy, chair of the Liberal caucus legislative
committee, which is contemplating its strategy.

"As time goes by, there's a lingering doubt about whether this
incarceration program of Rob Nicholson's works and whether the cost
is worth it."

The drug bill sailed through the Commons in June 2009 after the
Liberals teamed up with the Conservatives, despite grumbling within
Grit ranks that they were being told to support a bad bill so they
wouldn't be accused of being soft on crime.

The Bloc Quebecois and NDP voted against the bill.

Mark Holland, the Liberal public safety critic, said he does not
regret voting for the drug-sentencing bill last year, but added the
opposition should go back to the drawing board in light of new
revelations that another law-and-order initiative is expected to cost
billions by imprisoning offenders for longer.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has acknowledged that the new Truth
in Sentencing Act, which eliminates judicial discretion to give
offenders a two-for-one credit to compensate for time spent in
presentence custody, will cost about $2 billion over five years.

The drug-sentencing bill easily cleared the Commons despite being
lambasted by 13 of the 16 witnesses who appeared before the justice
committee during public hearings this spring.

Several opponents warned that the proposed legislation would fill
jails with addicts and young people rather than drug kingpins, who
would continue to thrive while small-time dealers are knocked out of
commission.

The Conservatives have defended their bill as a necessary tool to
fight organized crime by sending the message that drug criminals will
be treated harshly.

The proposed legislation would impose one-year mandatory jail time
for marijuana dealing, when it is linked to organized crime or a
weapon is involved.

The sentence would be increased to two years for dealing drugs such
as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine to young people, or pushing
drugs near a school or other places frequented by youths.