Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://torontosun.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Kathleen Harris, Ottawa Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Stephen+Harper Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Conservative+Party Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) TORY CRIME-FIGHTING PLANS PLEASE COPS OTTAWA -- Canada's cops are embracing the Conservative crime-cutting plan, but they're leery of the party's pledge to abolish the gun registry. Tony Cannavino, president of the Canadian Professional Police Association, said Canadians have lost faith in a justice system that has become a revolving door for re-offending criminals. He praised the Tory pledge to tip the scales of justice in favour of victims and shed city streets of deadly guns. "For the most part, the Conservative Party's security platform seems to be the result of thorough thinking and to be guided by the willingness of instilling a tougher justice system and policies for the treatment of violent offenders," he said. Cannavino said Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's commitment to invest more money in police resources and impose mandatory minimum sentences for more weapons and drug offences will give police officers an edge on curbing gun and gang violence. But he denounced the Tory plan to abolish the gun registry -- a controversial control measure he described as a "useful tool" for police. Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan dismissed the Tory plan as copycat version of many measures already announced by the Liberals. "He talks about crime prevention programming -- where's the man been? We've had crime prevention programming for years, working with local communities doing good things that deal with the root causes of crime," she said. But Steve Sullivan, of the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, said the Tory plan to create a national victims' ombudsman is one measure that goes beyond the Grit promise. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake