NEW LAWS SENDING MIXED MESSAGE ON METH

In Canada, there are various crimes for which the maximum sentence is life
in prison.

Murder is one. Robbery is another. Selling cocaine and heroin also carry
that judicial possibility.

And now, courtesy of Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, peddling crystal meth
can be added to the list.

However, as argued by Kamloops Conservative MP Betty Hinton and other
critics of the Liberal government's approach to crime, what is missing is a
minimum sentence for those convicted of dealing this horrible drug.

Minimum sentences do exist in Canada. For example, those convicted of
committing serious firearms offences face mandatory minimum sentences,
pursuant to legislation enacted in 1996.

The problem with extending the maximum sentence for dealing meth to life in
prison from 10 years is that it is all too often justice window-dressing.

The move has captured the attention of the U.S. media, with Seattle's
KING-TV trumpeting the fact that Canada's stance on meth dealers is now
tougher than that in the U.S.

On paper, perhaps. But not in practise.

As Cotler and Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh announced the new measures at a
press conference recently, neither could think of a single instance in
Canada in which a convicted dealer received the former 10-year maximum.

If judges did not use the 10-year maximum, the obvious question is: What
makes Cotler and Dosanjh believe judges will use the lifetime maximum?

Cotler replied that the intent of increasing the maximum sentence is not
necessarily about sending dealers to prison for life (or a facsimile
thereof, which in Canada is usually about a decade).

Rather, Cotler said, it's about his Liberal government sending a message.

Sending a message?

The only message this useless legislation sends is that the federal
government doesn't know what to do when it comes to the addicted and those
who prey on their weakness.

They've sent a mixed message on meth.