MP BACKS TOUGH CRIME BILL

The name of the federal government's new, all encompassing crime bill
tabled this week speaks for itself, said Delta-Richmond East MP
Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

"We believe that we received a strong mandate in the last election to
continue to make our streets and communities safe," Findlay said from
Ottawa on Tuesday (Sept. 20). "Hence the name of it (bill) Safe
Streets and Communities Act."

Findlay, who is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice,
said it entails nine bills that have been introduced before, but
because of a minority parliament, did not get through all the
processes needed to become law.

One of the leading changes being sought is an increase of mandatory
minimum sentencing for crimes involving cases related to drugs, sex
and violence.

"People look to the legislature to create a sense of parameters for
judges, although they have a great deal of discretion when it comes to
sentencing," she said. "But we're looked upon to look at maximum as
well as minimum sentencing."

With the prospect of longer sentences as a result, Findlay was asked
if the justice and corrections systems will receive increased funding
to deal with the possibility of greater case loads.

"The time to get through the court system is a complaint we hear
often, but if you have more certainty of sentencing one would think
that would lead to less backlog in the courts where you have a greater
understanding within the community of the penalties involved if one is
associated with criminal behaviour," she said.

One of the new portions of the act specifically targets organized
crime for the production and possession of drugs for the purposes of
trafficking.

"It's not aimed at the user, it's aimed at drug traffickers," Findlay
said.

Stiffer penalties for violent and repeat young offenders are also on
the list.

"It's taking action to protect families and hold criminals
accountable," she said. "It's particularly looking at the
victimization of children, as well as drug trafficking.

"It certainly gives the courts and law enforcement the tools they need
to treat these things seriously so that where there is a rise in crime
they can deal with it more effectively."

One of the criticisms of the bill points to the drop in crime across
the country. According to Statistics Canada, crime was down five per
cent in 2010.

Asked whether the federal government should be concentrating on the
economy rather than upping the war against crime, Findlay said, "As
far as (crime) statistics are concerned, although one can see they
appear to show a reduction in crime it's not across the board. There
is reduction in certain crimes, other crime is up. And other crime
remains unreported. So, it's not really accurate to say that crime is
down and this is not necessary.

"We are (also) the party that is most prudent fiscally, and we stand
by that record. So, there's no backing off that as a primary focus."

Findlay added the whole package is aimed at making communities safer
by making those convicted of crime more accountable, making the
sentences more consistent across the country.

While no hard figures have been attached to the omnibus bill, failure
to proceed with the changes would be a mistake, Findlay said.

"There have been a lot of questions about the cost, and I guess the
easiest way to answer that would be the cost of crime is such a huge
number that the cost of trying to combat it pales in comparison," she
said.