Pubdate: Wed, 07 Mar 2012
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/letters.html
Website: http://www.montrealgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Author: Tobi Cohen

OMNIBUS CRIME BILL SET FOR FINAL VOTE

OTTAWA - After months of acrimonious debate, the controversial omnibus
crime bill is poised to clear a final hurdle Wednesday before becoming
law.

The Safe Streets and Communities Act returned to the Commons Tuesday
for one last debate after several minor amendments were approved by
the Senate in relation to the State Immunity Act and the ability of
terrorism victims to sue their perpetrators.

The government promised to pass the bill within 100 sitting days of
the 41st Parliament and Postmedia News has learned the final vote on
C-10 is expected to happen late Wednesday, 10 days before the Harper
Conservatives will mark that milestone.

Should all go as planned, it will also take place hours after Justice
Minister Rob Nicholson joins former NHLer and child sex abuse victim
Sheldon Kennedy in Woodbridge, Ont., for one final public relations
splash. The hockey star testified before a Senate committee last month
in support of the bill's provision for mandatory minimum sentences for
child sex offenders.

Kennedy has become a victims' advocate since coming forward with his
own story of sexual assault. He and fellow former NHLer Theoren Fleury
were both abused by their junior hockey coach, Graham James, who
pleaded guilty in December.

James will be sentenced this month and Kennedy has raised concerns
that his abuser may only get house arrest.

A hodgepodge of nine justice bills, most of which were defeated in
previous Parliaments when the Conservatives were in minority, Bill
C-10 also sets minimum mandatory sentences for drug trafficking and
production, eliminates house arrest for a number of offences and
cracks down on young offenders, Canadians imprisoned abroad and those
seeking pardons.

Critics argue the cost of Bill C-10 will be enormous, that it favours
incarceration over rehabilitation and reintegration and that it will
lead to prison overcrowding. They've also slammed the Tories for
pushing it through without sufficient debate.
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