All Canadians deserve to live in safe neighbourhoods. In recent years the public's attention has focused on the rising scourge of gang, gun and drug violence that paralyzes too many neighbourhoods. These problems are very real and deserve real action. As of May 1, three new laws from the government's Tackling Violent Crime Act went into effect. The age of sexual consent has been officially increased from 14 to 16. Individuals charged with gun crimes will find it much more difficult to get bail and criminals who are convicted of gun offences will face stiff mandatory minimum sentences. [continues 235 words]
All Canadians deserve to live in safe neighbourhoods. In recent years the public's attention has focused on the rising scourge of gang, gun and drug violence that paralyzes too many neighbourhoods. These problems are very real and deserve real action. As of May 1, three new laws from the government's Tackling Violent Crime Act went into effect. The age of sexual consent has been officially increased from 14 to 16. Individuals charged with gun crimes will find it much more difficult to get bail and criminals who are convicted of gun offences will face stiff mandatory minimum sentences that will keep them behind bars and off the streets. [continues 237 words]
Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that random searches by drug sniffing dogs in Canadian high schools cannot take place unless there is already reasonable suspicion that drugs are present. While the federal government will abide by this ruling, it strongly disagrees with the Supreme Court's decision. Drug sniffing dogs are a powerful deterrent for drug criminals. They can detect even the faintest traces of drugs from a great distance, even if those drugs are tightly sealed. The Supreme Court's ruling opens up the possibility that the use of drug sniffing dogs in other public spaces, such as airports, could also be challenged in the future. [continues 229 words]
Last Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that random searches by drug sniffing dogs in Canadian high schools cannot take place unless there is already reasonable suspicion that drugs are present. While the federal government will abide by this ruling, it strongly disagrees with the Supreme Court's decision. Drug sniffing dogs are a powerful deterrent for drug criminals. They can detect even the faintest traces of drugs from a great distance, even if those drugs are tightly sealed. The Supreme Court's ruling opens up the possibility that the use of drug sniffing dogs in other public spaces, such as airports, could also be challenged in the future. This poses a serious risk to the safety of all Canadians. [continues 218 words]
Canada's new government is taking action to protect the lives of innocent people from those who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Legislative reforms introduced last week will ensure that drug-impaired drivers face similar testing to that which drunk drivers now face. The government is also giving police better tools to detect and investigate drug and alcohol-impaired driving, and increasing the penalties convicted impaired drivers face. The government will be providing more tools for the police. They will be able to demand that a person suspected of driving while impaired by alcohol or a drug participate in a sobriety test at the roadside and police will be able to demand that a person suspected of driving while impaired by a drug participate in physical tests and bodily fluid sample tests. [continues 199 words]
Canada's government is taking action to protect the lives of innocent people from those who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Legislative reforms introduced last week will ensure that drug-impaired drivers face similar testing to that which drunk drivers now face. The government is also giving police better tools to detect and investigate drug and alcohol-impaired driving, and increasing the penalties convicted impaired drivers face. The Government will be providing more tools for the police. They will be able to demand that a person suspected of driving while impaired by alcohol or a drug participate in a sobriety test at the roadside and police will be able to demand that a person suspected of driving while impaired by a drug participate in physical tests and bodily fluid sample tests. Proposed reforms to the Criminal Code include increasing penalties drivers will face if found in possession of an illicit drug. [continues 171 words]
On Tuesday the Liberal government finally introduced Bill C-38, the Marijuana Bill, after a week of internal haggling. The government seeks to decriminalize possession of "small" amounts of cannabis (less than 15 grams - the equivalent of 25 joints!), reducing the penalty from a criminal conviction to a small fine. The Liberals claim that these measures are all part of a National Drug Strategy, intended "to reduce both the supply of and the demand for drugs." How decriminalization can be part of a "strategy" to reduce drug abuse in this country is beyond me. [continues 450 words]
