TORIES WANT TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM CRIME

The letter by Dr. Michael Vance contained many factual errors and
misrepresentations of our Conservative crime legislation.

Bill C-10 will create tougher measures for repeat and violent
offenders who will be held accountable through sentences proportionate
to the severity of their crimes.

Lamenting the cost of incarceration, critics such as Vance choose to
overlook the cost to victims and society imposed by repeat and violent
offenders. Critics also tend to disregard investments our government
has made in youth at risk programs and the fact the many repeat and
violent offenders are graduates of the revolving door, soft on crime
system having denied or refused to participate in previously offered
voluntary rehabilitation programs.

To compare our modest changes to Texas is disingenuous; Texas has
proportionately five times the incarceration rate of Canada. It is
estimated that the actual increase in prison population will be a
relatively small percentage and manageable. Furthermore, the new
legislation authorizes a judge to suspend a mandatory prison sentence
where an accused has an addiction to drugs and successfully completes
a rehabilitation program. There are currently six drug treatment
courts across Canada, and Bill C-10 provides for their expanded use.
An offender with a drug abuse problem will have access to that help.

Just this week we have introduced further measures to provide greater
protection and clarification of the law concerning those who undertake
a citizen's arrest or take measures to defend their own home and
property from criminal activity.

Our government campaigned on and was elected on promises to impose
tougher penalties on those who scoff at our laws, abuse our children
and undermine our communities. We are delivering on our promises.

James Lunney

MP Nanaimo-Alberni