CRIME ON CONSERVATIVE AGENDA

Surrey Candidates Want Tougher Laws

The four Conservative party candidates running in Surrey staged their
first joint news conference of the current campaign Monday afternoon
to promote the party's "British Columbia Platform 2006."

They said the initiative addresses specific Surrey issues, in
particular the need to crack down on criminal activity by setting
tougher minimum sentences for drug-related offences.

Incumbent South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale MP Russ Hiebert commented
that "crime is out of control in Surrey with street racing, grow
houses and shootings."

Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Nina Grewal said Surrey has "one of the
highest crime rates in all of Canada."

Newton-North Delta candidate Phil Eidsvik preferred to talk about the
need to unclog transportation bottlenecks in his riding, saying "port
cities" like Delta deserve a road system that works.

Surrey North Tory hopeful David Matta described himself as a "Chuck
Cadman supporter," saying a Tory government would make sure the late
MP's proposed anti-crime laws would be passed in their original form,
not the "watered-down" version approved by the Liberals.