REPORT FROM PARLIAMENT

I hope you were able to spend time with family and friends during this past Thanksgiving weekend. This is the time of year where we collectively enjoy the fruits of our labour and reflect on freedom, justice and the other countless blessings that come with living in Canada.

While our desire as Canadians is to live in a fair and just society, victims of crime remind us that justice and our laws need to be revised regularly. White collar crime hurts our families and friends usually by targeting them in a financial way, directly affecting their quality of life and peace of mind.

In June of 2009 your Conservative Government took action against white-collar crime when it introduced Bill C-42 which proposes to end conditional sentences (for example, house arrest) for criminals who commit theft over $5,000 and we are working toward the establishment of a federal securities regulator, which would strengthen both regulatory and criminal enforcement.

When the punishment doesn’t fit the crime all Canadians lose faith in the criminal justice system. The victims of white collar crime often suffer devastating financial losses at the hands of the perpetrator. That is why in this upcoming legislation will also be considering the issue of restitution.

Unless the fraud committed by a white collar criminal is particularly large, these types of offences can typically go unnoticed or unreported on the news. By no means does this mean that Canadians are any less affected by this terrible breech of their trust. That is why your Conservative government proposed legislative amendments to include a mandatory jail sentence for those who commit serious fraud and additional aggravating factors which may justify longer sentences.

Family is the cornerstone of what makes Canada into such a great nation. Our children are our heritage. We strive to instill the right values into our children and to provide for them throughout their childhood. It is not right that one single fraudulent event should strip families of financial independence; this is why your Conservative government will continue to stand up for our families and for justice.

Hon. Gerry Ritz is the Member of Parliament for Battlefords-Lloydminster www.gerryritzmp.ca