Tackling Crime, Protecting Canadians

October 30, 2009

In a few letters to my office and in local newspapers, opponents are characterizing the Government’s actions to improve the justice system as heartless, extreme and worse, as American style justice. 

Constituents can rest assured that we are taking a distinctly Canadian approach to improving our judicial system and, upon closer look, will find the measures sensible rather than extreme with the primary intention being the restoration of efficiency and efficacy.
A prime example is the abolishment of the 2 for 1 credit in sentencing which recently became law.
In the past, for every day an offender spent in custody awaiting sentencing (remand), the offender was given two days or even 3 days off the length of their sentence.

For ordinary Canadians, it was hard to understand how such sentences complied with the fundamental purposes of sentencing, which is to denounce unlawful conduct, deter the offender from committing other offences and protect society by keeping convicted criminals off the streets.

Detractors have argued that the 2 for 1 and 3 for 1 practice is fair compensation for time already served.  They also argue that this practice stops our jails from becoming overcrowded by offenders serving longer sentences and is appropriately sympathetic and fair to those who commit less serious crimes or first-time offenders.
The arguments of overcrowding, the need for rehabilitation and suitable sentences for the crimes committed are all valid but are more appropriately directed toward our increasingly ineffective legal system rather than discrediting the 2 for 1 legislation. 

Contrary to creating punitive laws and a “fighting crime” agenda based solely on vote-getting,  the crime legislation tabled by our government is trying to bring a balance back to sentencing as well as ensuring that repeat and violent offenders are appropriately dealt with within our legal system.

The evidence exists in the key pieces of legislation introduced by the Government, including the Tackling Violent Crime Act, which, among other things, signals an end to lenient penalties for those who commit serious or violent gun crimes.

In addition, our government has passed legislation to increase penalties for those convicted of street racing and legislation that ends house arrest for serious personal injury and violent offences, including sexual assault. 

The Government has brought in reforms to address the problems of organized crime and introduced legislation to provide mandatory sentencing for serious drug offences.

In the Senate, the Government has introduced legislation to protect Canadians against the rapidly increasing crime of identity theft.

Furthermore, the Government has also established the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime and created a National Anti-Drug Strategy to reduce the supply and demand of illicit drugs in Canada with a greater focus on education and prevention.

More recently, the Government has begun to tackle white collar crime, auto and property theft, as well as parole and rehabilitation of offenders.

Constituents can be assured that our Government will continue doing what Canadians expect; making laws that will keep our communities and streets safer. Our Government promised to tackle crime and strengthen security when we formed the government, we are proud of these changes and we have kept our word.

I encourage all individuals and organizations with genuine concerns for our legal system to work with the Government and provide constructive input to the federal and provincial Ministers of Justice who are working so hard to improve the efficacy and efficiency of criminal justice in this country.  The system is far from perfect but for the sake of victims and offenders alike we must make a concerted effort to improve it. 


Time to Remember

I would just like to remind everyone that November 5th to 11th is Veteran’s Week in Canada.  I encourage you to join with our community and honour our veterans by joining me at Lion’s Park in Rutland or one of our cenotaphs in Lake Country or Kelowna City Park.  By taking the time to remember we keep the memory of their sacrifice alive.
 Ron Cannan is the MP for Kelowna-Lake Country and can be reached at 250-470-5075 or by email at ron@cannan.ca