Re: Fighting half the battle, Editorial Nov. 5 Canadians are concerned about crime, which is why they gave our government a strong mandate to keep our streets and communities safe. Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, will crack down on those who commit child sexual offences and target gangs that sell drugs to our kids. Provincial governments from across the country, including the Liberal government in British Columbia, the NDP government in Manitoba and the PC government in New Brunswick, support these important measures to fight crime. [continues 215 words]
Re: Tory crime bill much like failed U.S. model column, by Stephen Maher, Sept. 21. I would like to take this opportunity to correct some of the points made by Stephen Maher regarding our government's efforts to tackle serious drug crimes in Canada. Contrary to Mr. Maher's assertions, the Safe Streets and Communities Act does not target " small-time pot farmers." The proposed mandatory sentences for production of between six and 200 marijuana plants only apply when the offence is carried out for the "purpose of trafficking". [continues 150 words]
I would like to correct some points made in Stephen Maher's column, Tories' crime bill borrows from failed U.S. model (SP, Sept. 22). Contrary to Maher's assertions, our Safe Streets and Communities Act does not target "small-time pot farmers." The proposed mandatory sentences for production of between six and 200 marijuana plants only apply when the offence is carried out for the "purpose of trafficking." Furthermore, for the trafficking of illicit drugs, certain aggravating factors must also be present in order for the mandatory sentences to apply, including the use of violence or weapons, selling to youth or posing a hazard to the health and safety of residential neighbourhoods. This bill does not target individuals who have unfortunately become addicted to drugs. Simple possession offences would not be subject to any mandatory penalties. [continues 56 words]
Re: "Conservatives' new crime bill borrows from failed U.S. model," by Stephen Maher, Ideas, Sept. 22. I would like to correct some of the points made by Stephen Maher regarding our government's efforts to tackle serious drug crimes in Canada. Contrary to Maher's assertions, the Safe Streets and Communities Act does not target "small-time pot farmers." The proposed mandatory sentences for production of between six and 200 marijuana plants only apply when the offence is carried out for the "purpose of trafficking." [continues 142 words]
Re: Tory crime bill much like failed U.S. model, Sept. 11. I would like to take this opportunity to correct some of the points made in the article by Stephen Maher regarding our government's efforts to tackle serious drug crimes in Canada. Contrary to Maher's assertions, the Safe Streets and Communities Act does not target "small-time pot farmers." The proposed mandatory sentences for production of between six and 200 marijuana plants only apply when the offence is carried out for the "purpose of trafficking." [continues 150 words]
I would like to correct some of the points made in Stephen Maher's Sept. 22 column regarding the federal government's efforts to tackle serious drug crimes in Canada. Contrary to Maher's assertions, the Safe Streets & Communities Act does not target "small-time pot farmers". The proposed mandatory sentences for production of between six and 200 marijuana plants only apply when the offence is carried out for the "purpose of trafficking". Furthermore, for the trafficking of illicit drugs, certain aggravating factors must also be present in order for the mandatory sentences to apply, including the use of violence or weapons, selling to youth or posing a hazard to the health and safety of residential neighbourhoods. This bill does not target individuals that have unfortunately become addicted to drugs. Simple possession offences would not be subject to any mandatory penalties. [continues 73 words]
I would like to take this opportunity to correct some of the points made in the article by Stephen Maher regarding our government's efforts to tackle serious drug crimes in Canada. Contrary to his assertions, the Safe Streets and Communities Act does not target "small-time pot farmers." The proposed mandatory sentences for production of between six and 200 marijuana plants, only apply when the offence is carried out for the "purpose of trafficking." Furthermore, for the trafficking of illicit drugs, certain aggravating factors must also be present for the mandatory sentences to apply, including the use of violence or weapons, selling to youth or posing a hazard to the health and safety of residential neighbourhoods. [continues 96 words]
Our Conservative government has taken steps to help keep our communities safe and will continue to do so. We have taken concrete steps to address the serious, complex problems of identity theft and fraud. In this regard, Bill S-4 creates three new offences directly linked to identity theft -- each liable to a maximum five-year sentence. We are very proud that this legislation received Royal Assent on Oct. 22. We believe that Canadians deserve the very best protection for their identity and personal information. [continues 413 words]
Re: Why is Canada copying failure?, Larry Campbell, Jan. 8 It's no secret that illicit drugs fuel organized crime and foster petty crime. They also undermine healthy families and safe communities across Canada. As is stands now in Canada, a substantial proportion of serious drug offenders are currently not spending a single day in prison. Our approach is designed to target these serious drug offenders who are profiting from their crimes. This is why Ottawa has taken action by introducing legislative reforms to impose mandatory jail time for serious drug offences, which is aimed at organized criminals and those who prey on our youth. [continues 268 words]
Re: Glenn Kauth's Tuesday article. It's no secret that illicit drugs fuel organized crime and foster petty crime. They also undermine healthy families and safe communities across Canada. This is why the government of Canada has taken action by introducing legislative reforms to introduce mandatory jail time for serious drug offences. That is aimed at organized criminals and others who prey upon our youth. Our legislation contains an exception that allows a drug treatment court to impose a lesser penalty if the offender successfully completes an approved drug treatment program and if the offence did not involve any aggravating factors such as violence. Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (Sounds like a plan to us.) [end]
Re: Harper's Misguided War On Pot, editorial, Nov. 23. Drug producers and dealers who threaten the safety of our communities must face tougher penalties. That is why the federal government has proposed legislative reforms to introduce mandatory jail time for serious drug offences, which is aimed at organized criminals and others who prey on our youth. Drugs lead to more petty crime, more gang violence and more risk to law enforcement officers, all of which makes our communities less safe. [continues 155 words]
Re: What's Harper smoking?, Oct. 6. It's no secret that illicit drugs fuel organized crime and foster petty crime. They also undermine healthy families and safe communities across Canada. That is why the government is launching a new national anti-drug strategy that aims to prevent illicit drug use, treat those with illicit drug dependencies, and tackle the production and distribution of illicit drugs. This $63.8-million investment builds on existing programs worth $385 million. Our government recognizes that dealing more stringently with the organized-crime element is only part of the solution to the problem as it only tackles the supply of drugs. To be effective, we must also tackle the demand for drugs: this is why two-thirds of this new investment will be targeted towards prevention and treatment. Our government also supports and encourages the use of the drug-treatment courts to deal with low-level offenders who commit petty crimes or deal small amounts of drugs to feed their habits. Our approach is compassionate where appropriate and conversely tough where necessary. [continues 123 words]
Re: Common sense goes up in smoke, April 30. This opinion article seriously misstates the anti-drug impaired driving provisions of Bill C-32 before Parliament. An officer will be able to require a person to perform roadside physical sobriety tests upon suspicion of a drug in the body, based on behaviour or physical symptoms such as eyes that do not react normally to light. This is similar to the suspicion required for an alcohol breath test. It is only if the driver fails the road-side sobriety tests -- meaning that the driver is unable to walk a straight line or stand on one foot and hold the other foot six inches off the ground -- that the officer can demand further tests at the police station. [continues 265 words]
Not since Trainspotting, the movie about the drug scene in Edinburgh, have I seen such common sense about recreational drug use as in Betsy Powell's Life section article, They just won't fade away - They're illegal, but drugs are simply a part of life or the social scene for people of all kinds. Powell says it all and says it well. Obviously, illicit drug use is a societal and medical problem, rather than a financial problem. But the inescapable fact is that legalizing drugs would save us a fortune, probably on the order of $20 billion a year. [continues 131 words]
Powell says it all and says it well. Obviously, illicit drug use is a societal and medical problem, rather than a financial problem. But the inescapable fact is that legalizing drugs would save us a fortune, probably on the order of $20 billion a year. In this largely law-abiding society, 80 per cent to 90 per cent of police work, other than writing traffic tickets, seems to be drug-related. If we made the hard stuff available by prescription, and marijuana, etc., available through LCBO outlets, we probably could disband half our police forces. [continues 78 words]
