MOTIVATIONS ARE KEY

When it comes to crime, it can be extremely difficult to take people's
motivations into account. If you have had your home broken into or you
are the subject of a sexual assault, the motivations don't usually
come into it.

However, there are times when motivation can be crucial to actualy
solving or at least reducing a criminal issue. When we know why people
do things we don't like, this gives us a tool we can use to get them
to stop.

It's unfortunate then that the Conservative omnibus crime bill not
only doesn't take motivations into account in its crackdown on the
illegal drug trade, but also appears to tie the hands of judges to
prevent them from doing so, too.

Let's be clear here. If the neighbourhood drug dealer asked for your
daughter's hand in marriage, you likely wouldn't go bragging about it
to the neighbours. Drug dealing isn't about social status, after all.

What it is really all about, of course is money. Full stop. That's all
there is. There is a reason for that. Drugs, because they are illegal,
are extremely lucrative, for those willing to take the chance to sell
them.

Take the money away and you take away a large part of the
problem.

The Conservative bill does nothing to address this fact, or rather, it
will likely serve, not only to put more Canadians in jail -- at a
hideously expensive cost -- but will likely raise the risk, and
therefore the price and thus profitability of the illegal drug trade.

Yes, there will be more people in jail, but there will also be far
more people willing to take their place on the street.