Tough on Crime measures become law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 04 MARCH 2008

OTTAWA – Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Hon. Gerry Ritz says protections for Canadians are finally in place following the long overdue Senate passage of the government’s mega crime bill.

“It was a long time coming after being stuck in the Liberal-dominated Senate for many months, but Royal Assent of Bill C-2, the Tackling Violent Crime Act, means we can finally crack down on gun violence, repeat offenders, impaired driving and the sexual exploitation of children,” says Ritz.

After ongoing Opposition obstruction and delays to tough-on-crime legislation, the Conservative government moved last fall to combine five separate justice bills into the Tackling Violent Crime Act. When the delays continued, the government made its passage a matter of confidence.

The single comprehensive crime bill includes laws that make our streets and communities safer. The reforms include:

- mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes,

- tougher bail rules when a gun is used to commit a crime

- increasing the age of consent for sexual activity from 14 to 16 years

- cracking down on drug-impaired driving; and

- ensuring that high-risk dangerous offenders face tougher consequences when they are sentenced and stronger follow-up measures to prevent them from re-offending.

“Many of my constituents in Battlefords-Lloydminster have been vocal in their support for this bill so it’s rewarding to finally be able to deliver these important tough-on-crime laws,” says Ritz.

This bill responds to the clear priorities of Canadians – that victims should be respected, children should be protected and dangerous criminals should be held accountable for their crimes.

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For more information call Todd MacKay 613-759-1059