Pubdate: Thu, 08 Mar 2012
Source: Alberni Valley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Alberni Valley Times
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/albernivalleytimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4043

CRIME BILL POISED TO PASS BEFORE TORIES' 100TH DAY

Controversial Law Set to Clear Final Hurdle on Wednesday

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 House of 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 NHLer Theoren Fleury were
both abused by their junior hockey coach, Graham James, who pleaded
guilty in December.

James will be sentenced later 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, pointing to the 11th
hour Senate amendments as proof. Liberal justice critic Irwin Cotler
put forward similar amendments during a Commons committee review of
the bill, but his ideas were ultimately ignored.

Meanwhile, NDP justice critic Jack Harris launched a one-man
filibuster, of sorts, Tuesday in a final bid to reiterate his party's
concerns with the bill.

As the first member of the Opposition to address the Senate
amendments, Harris had unlimited time to speak and took advantage of
it for three hours Tuesday morning.

"I guess I'll have to end at some point, but I'm not sure when,"
Harris said after question period, noting he will continue speaking to
the bill on Wednesday, but is unlikely to keep it up for 10 days in
order to "throw (the Tories) off their agenda."

That said, the Conservatives indicated late Tuesday that they would
table a time allocation motion to limit further debate on Bill C-10.
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.