PUBLIC WANTS GET-TOUGH-ON-CRIME APPROACH

Re: Fighting half the battle, Editorial Nov. 5

Canadians are concerned about crime, which is why they gave our
government a strong mandate to keep our streets and communities safe.
Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, will crack down on
those who commit child sexual offences and target gangs that sell
drugs to our kids.

Provincial governments from across the country, including the Liberal
government in British Columbia, the NDP government in Manitoba and the
PC government in New Brunswick, support these important measures to
fight crime.

As Prime Minister Stephen Harper reiterated this weekend, there are
constitutional responsibilities for all governments to enforce laws
and protect it citizens. Canadians expect that their provincial
governments will work with the federal government to make sure we have
safe streets and communities. The federal government has worked hard
to be responsive to the many issues and requests for criminal code
amendments that the provinces have put forward, such as ending the two
for one credit.

The fact is that the cost of crime on society far exceeds the cost of
fighting crime. The Department of Justice estimates that for 2008, the
cost of crime on Canadian society was nearly $100 billion. Since
taking office, support payments to the provinces and territories have
increased by 30 per cent or $12.7 billion. In Budget 2010-2011, we
announced transfer payments to the provinces and territories of $54
billion, an increase of over $2.4 billion from the previous year.

As we move quickly to implement the Safe Streets and Communities Act,
Canadians across the country can count on our government to deliver on
our promise to get tough on crime and stand up for victims and
law-abiding citizens.

Rob Nicholson

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Ottawa