MINIMUM SENTENCES REVIEWED: JUSTICE MINISTER

The province is taking a hard look at proposing minimum sentences for
some drug offences, says Alberta's justice minister.

Minimum jail terms should be levied against offenders instead of
conditional sentences, Ron Stevens told staff and lawyers at Red Deer
Courthouse on Wednesday.

Stevens, in the city to open a new domestic violence court, said he
agrees with everything the families of four slain Alberta RCMP
officers advocate in terms of tougher sentencing of marijuana grow
operators and tougher parole laws.

"I've followed what they've said and from everything I've read, I
believe the justice system has to be changed."

The families want Ottawa to legislate mandatory minimum sentences of
two to four years to ensure all operators serve jail time.

Stevens said the parole system is the responsibility of the solicitor
general.

He said ministers can propose local issues but they may also affect
people at a national level.

"When you talk about the Criminal Code or drug legislation, that's
within the power of the federal government."

He said Ottawa generally wants consensus on proposals.

The consensus usually means complete support for recommendations, he
added.

Stevens said the provincial justice ministers get together once a year
to discuss issues and bring some forward to Ottawa.

He said he will introduce issues of conditional and minimum sentencing
to his Canadian counterparts at a November meeting in Whitehorse. "I
feel all the provinces will be supportive of a change at this time,"
he said.

He said there are not enough minimum sentence sections in the Criminal
Code.

The areas of marijuana grow operations, methamphetamine trafficking
and production need change.

"People in that line need to go to jail," he said.

They shouldn't have the opportunity of receiving house arrest
penalties, he added.

"I think these areas will have a lot of appeal to the other justice
ministers."

The four Mounties were gunned down by James Roszko as they staked out
his farm, where they had discovered stolen car parts and a marijuana
grow operation.

The families also want a three-strikes rule that would see mandatory
prison terms for third offences of other kinds.