CONS HAVE REASON TO VOTE LIBERAL

If justice is on your mind as you make your way to the polling booth
on Monday, remember this. The Liberals have failed spectacularly on
that front. Victims' groups know it. Most front-line people know it.
And if that's not enough, the ringing endorsement of Paul Martin's
gang by Canada's prison population should clinch it.

Reporting from Stony Mountain Pen last weekend, CTV National News
said that "from cell to cell, prisoner after prisoner told (the
reporter) they were voting Liberal, with no exceptions."

And if I were in their shoes I'd vote Liberal, too. Because Liberals
would be my best chance of staying out of jail, no matter what.

Remember, it was the Liberals who dreamed up conditional sentences
that allow violent offenders to serve their time on the couch, and
the lack of supervision ensures the con's comfort is never
compromised. Even if caught breaching conditions, chances of being
shipped off to jail are less than 50%. In fact, one option is to
adjust the conditions, to make it easier for the con to comply. In
2004 Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said that he'd look at the
conditional sentence issue but that high priorities like marijuana
reform might get in his way. Since then they've done some
vote-getting tinkering. For example, by ruling out house arrest for
terrorist activity. I love it when they talk tough. Ergo -- no real change.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act, brought on by former justice minister
Anne McLellan, has even some left-wing judges wringing their hands.
It expects meaningful, rehabilitative consequences to be meted out to
young people who are encouraged, by legislation, to hide behind the
special rights that promote dishonesty and keeps the truth distant.
Just the answer for any youngster leaning toward a deviant life.

DNA is the No. 1 crime-busting tool of all time. But Orwellian
propaganda resulted in the Liberals writing restrictive,
labyrinth-like legislation that guides its use. An expert who
appeared before a justice committee testified that "the holes in this
net are too large to be truly helpful to the homicide or sexual
assault investigator." Another said, "It's like getting a new car
with all the bells and whistles but no wheels."

Properly enacted legislation could yield tens of thousands more
success storied than the few there are now. Despite minor
improvements, the administration of federal DNA labs are in such a
mess that the auditor general has gathered a team to investigate and
is expected to report back to Parliament later this year or in early 2007.

And a mess down at the forensic lab is just what a predator wants to hear.

Astonishingly, until just recently the Liberals paraded like peacocks
in the justice ring, and denials followed the growing levels of
violence witnessed by Canadians. Even following the spring slaughter
of four Mounties in Alberta, Liberal MP Paul Devillers blabbed on
about today's safer society.

But with the election, those theatrics are in storage and new,
get-tough talk on minimum sentences take the stage. In reality,
though, Cotler, an intense opponent of minimum sentences, and Martin
would rather choke before they walk that walk. And the crooks know that, too.

As for Stephen Harper, his platform is clear. Mandatory minimums for
serious drug trafficking, weapon and violent offences. The end of
conditional sentences for violent, sexual and other serious offences.
Protection of citizens, especially women and children, through an
enhanced DNA data bank.

Harper says he recognizes that society has an obligation to at-risk
youth. He says he'll shift resources from wasteful bureaucracies,
like the billion-dollar gun control program, to the front lines and
offer alternative opportunities and environments. He also says
meaningful consequences and punishment are part of that obligation.
Sounds like work. And sounds different from the current reality of
being sentenced to hang around the mall with your gang buddies.

Harper is on solid ground stating, "Our collective obligation is
clear, we want to make sure every young person in this country has
the opportunity to live in a safe environment, to grow up and become
a productive citizen who is neither a criminal or a victim of crime."

Harper says, "We've got to put people who play by the rules first,
not the ones who break them."

Compare that with Paul Martin, who in the wake of Toronto's Boxing
Day massacre spouted off that "the tragic act" was committed by young
people who have felt marginalized and excluded by society.

A tightened justice system will make Canada a better country. Harper
has promised to get tough and make the criminal life far less appealing.

Helping those in conflict and preventing future crimes go hand in
hand with, but are not a substitute for, tough law enforcement.

Finally, Martin has promised to pay $250,000 to the families of
police killed in the line of duty. I guess he's feeling guilty about
letting guns, drug and gangs flourish and creating a Canada more
dangerous than ever.

Martin has said time and again that his values are very different
from Harper's.

Those values make it clear why the cons are voting Liberal.