CANNAN VOWS TO GET TOUGH ON CRIME

Conservative Party of Canada candidate Ron Cannan began his campaign
for the Kelowna-Lake Country Member of Parliament seat Saturday
outlining his parties platform to the conservative faithful Saturday.

With crime, specifically drug related activity, a growing problem in
this riding and throughout BC, the former City of Kelowna Councillor
was quick to back leader Stephen Harper's strategy to fight crime head
on.

"It is time to stand up for British Columbians to protect our children
from drug and substance abuse by getting tough on crime," said Harper,
speaking at the Laurel Building during the parties' annual open house
Saturday. "Stephen was in Vancouver this morning and announced that
the conservative party of Canada will achieve this by not turning a
blind eye to the problem but by introducing legislation that will
number one ban conditional sentencing and house arrests for serious
drug crimes. Number two, we will introduce mandatory minimum sentences
of two years for criminals convicted of producing and trafficking drugs."

Cannan said it is time for the justice system to pull its collective
head out of the sand.

"One of my neighbours is an RCMP officer and he's just tired of what I
like to call the catch and release program we have out there right now
for repeat offenders so this is fabulous news," he said of Harper's
approach.

But the problems plaguing Canada, he said, go much higher than the
street level.

"It is time to replace the Liberal Party's culture of corruption with
a conservative Party of Canada and its commitment to accountability,"
he said. "It is time to stand up for British Columbians and their values."

He said the public has become doormats for the Liberal
agenda.

"This government has pushed Canadians too far," he said. "The Liberals
have abused the trust Canadians have placed in them. They wiped their
feet on the lives of honest, hard working Canadians and left honesty
integrity outside the door when they entered the House of Commons."

He promised that his party would do just the opposite.

The Conservatives have also pledge to reduce the Goods and Services
tax by two per cent from five to seven. It's a plan Cannan supports.

"It is better to have a dollar in the hand of a Canadian citizen then
in the pocket of a bureaucrat," he said.

And, he added, it is time to open up the House to allow the governing
party more latitude to let its Members of Parliament vote with their
conscience.

"It is time to address the needs of real democratic reforms in the
House of Commons," he said. "The Conservative Party of Canada will
achieve this by allowing more free votes in the House of Commons and
amending the senate to allow for the election of senators."

Cannan took some time to praise the work of retiring 12 year MP Werner
Schmidt.

"Your honesty and dedication to the members of the riding has set a
very high standard for me to achieve which I can only hope and strive
to meet," he said "I look forward to meeting that challenge."