Pubdate: Wed, 21 Oct 2009
Source: Norwich Gazette, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc.
Contact:  http://norwichgazette.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2384
Author: Dave Breakenridge

GET TOUGH, BUT REAL

Here's a great idea.

Let's, as Canadians, write both houses of our government, yes there 
are two, and tell them what our priorities are surrounding crime.

Because they're only half getting it.

Ending double credit for pretrial custody? Good.

Mandatory jail sentences for people who grow and sell as few as five 
marijuana plants? Bad.

A pair of Conservative "we're the toughest of the tough on crime" 
bills went before the Senate Justice Committee last week and were 
both greeted with suspicion from Liberals in the Senate, which 
produced nothing but outrage from the Conservatives.

And the circle of life continues.

But lost in the din of the usual name calling that would put 
kindergartners to shame is what has the makings of real political discourse.

The notion here is that Canadians surely want the justice system to 
stop mollycoddling criminals, by ensuring they do as much time in 
jail as possible.

But at the same time the debate also needs to be had whether certain 
crimes actually warrant jail time. trial for violent offences, and 
sex crimes are the kinds of people Canadians don't mind seeing 
clogging our remand centres.

But when it comes to small-time drug dealers, especially marijuana, 
Canadians would rather tell lawmakers to deal with people doing real harm.

So yes, the Senate is well out of line for gutting legislation ending 
2-for-1 credit for pretrial custody.

You know they're wrong when even the NDP thinks so.

But the Conservatives have lost the plot for including in a bill -- 
which also targets organized crime operations and pushers who peddle 
to kids -- such a low jail threshold for small-time growers.

Even worse is the unfair notion of forcing dealers in small centres 
into jail while allowing those from cities with drug courts, a truly 
valuable tool, to skirt prison for completing the program.

It's time someone told the Conservatives it's possible to be tough on 
crime without putting everyone in jail.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart