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Nicholson will push justice legislation which will include mandatory jail time
By Hempology | March 3, 2008
Thu, 28 Feb 2008
Review, The (CN ON)
Corey Larocque
CRIME BILL’S PASSAGE REMOVES ONE CONSERVATIVE CONFIDENCE ISSUE
Justice Minister Threatened Election If Senate Delayed Bill Past Saturday
Two out of three ain’t bad for the federal Conservative government which, two weeks ago, faced a possible defeat over three different issues.
But Royal Assent for Justice Minister Rob Nicholson’s Tackling Violent Crime Act on Thursday resolved one of the confidence issues whose defeat would bring down the minority government. “We were prepared to go to the people on this,” said Nicholson, the MP for Niagara Falls.
He was frustrated by the Liberal-dominated Senate’s refusal to pass the legislation which had been fast-tracked through the House of Commons last year.
Two weeks ago, Nicholson issued a March 1 deadline for the Senate to pass it or risk triggering an election. The anti-crime law was so key to Conservative agenda, if it didn’t pass, Nicholson said he would tell Prime Minister Stephen Harper they had lost the confidence of Parliament.
“It’s a major part of what we promised Canadians on tackling violent crime,” Nicholson said. “Any attempt to sabotage or defeat this legislation, we would consider it a confidence measure and let Canadians decide.”
With Nicholson’s bill through and apparent agreement with the Liberals over Canada’s role in Afghanistan, this week’s federal budget is the remaining issue that could bring down Harper’s government.
The Tackling Violent Crime Act was an omnibus bill made up of several bills that weren’t passed in the Harper government’s first legislative session in 2006. It creates tougher bail and sentencing provisions for those who use guns to commit crimes, raises the age of sexual consent to 16 years from 14, and helps police get tough on impaired drivers.
With Thursday’s political win behind him, Nicholson said he will push a second round of justice legislation which will include mandatory jail time for people who import drugs, sell drugs to children or work in marijuana growing operations.
“I think we’re sending a very clear message they can expect jail time under our legislation,” Nicholson said.
The next two weeks in Ottawa will be absorbed by budget votes, but Nicholson said he could roll out his next bill in early April.
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake
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