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Omnibus Crime Bill: Ottawa Won't Give '$1-Billion Cheque For Ontario,' Justice Minister Says

Omnibus Crime Bill Rob Nicholson

First Posted: 01/26/2012 1:11 pm Updated: 01/26/2012 1:59 pm

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CHARLOTTETOWN - The federal justice minister is rebuffing calls from Ontario to foot the costs of implementing the omnibus crime bill.

Rob Nicholson told his provincial counterparts today in Charlottetown that Ottawa has already committed to increase transfer payments by $2.4 billion.

Nicholson says the federal government "doesn't have a $1-billion cheque for Ontario."

Earlier this week, the Ontario government said the legislation will add more than $1 billion in increased police and court costs, reiterating its calls for the federal government to foot the bill.

Quebec Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier says the costs of Bill C-10 will amount to $500 million for his province.

Fournier says the provinces and territories have agreed to press Ottawa for consultation on the bill to identify costs and to look at implementation time frames.

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  • Key Measures In Tory Crime Bill

    The bill, known as the Safe Streets and Communities Act, includes the following measures: <em>With files from The Canadian Press</em> (CP/Alamy)

  • Child Sex Offences

    Heftier penalties for sexual offences against children. The bill also creates two new offences aimed at conduct that could facilitate or enable the commission of a sexual offence against a child. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Drugs

    Tougher sentences for the production and possession of illicit drugs for the purposes of trafficking. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Violent And Young Offenders

    Tougher penalties for violent and repeat young offenders. (JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Conditional Sentences

    An end to the use of conditional sentences, or house arrest, for serious and violent crimes (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Parole Hearings

    Allowing victims to participate in parole hearings. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

  • Pardons

    Extending ineligibility periods for applications for pardons to five years from three for summary-conviction offences and to 10 years from five for indictable offences. (Flickr: haven't the slightest)

  • Transferring Canadian Offenders

    Expanding the criteria that the public safety minister can consider when deciding whether to allow the transfer of a Canadian offender back to Canada to serve a sentence. (JOEL ROBINE/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Terror Victims

    Allowing terrorism victims to sue terrorists and their supporters, including listed foreign states, for losses or damages resulting from an act of terrorism committed anywhere in the world.(STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images)

  • Human Trafficking

    Measures to prevent human trafficking and exploitation. (LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images)

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CHARLOTTETOWN - The federal justice minister is rebuffing calls from Ontario to foot the costs of implementing the omnibus crime bill.Rob Nicholson told his provincial counterparts today in Charlottet...
CHARLOTTETOWN - The federal justice minister is rebuffing calls from Ontario to foot the costs of implementing the omnibus crime bill.Rob Nicholson told his provincial counterparts today in Charlottet...
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Ashley Deans
116 Fans
04:04 PM on 01/27/2012
With rehabilitation programs, such as Transcendental Meditation, proving so effective in reducing criminal behavior and reducing recidivism the sensible crime bill would focus primarily on increasing prevention programs rather than increasing incarceration rates.
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MikeSkCDN
29 Fans
08:49 PM on 01/26/2012
Its funny the Right wing in Canada used to complain vocally about the Federal Government pushing policy changes on the provinces without consultation (long gun registry, Languages issues etc) Now all of a sudden when its them in power and something they agree with and like the sitiuation is some how different.
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john frodo
armchair expert
333 Fans
04:27 PM on 01/26/2012
Just stop arresting people for pot, arrest them for guns, for stealing power, but not for pot, not only will you not have to spend an extra billion you will save a billion.
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iggy500
204 Fans
08:06 PM on 01/26/2012
But then there will not be an easy money stream to the US mega corporations that build and run prisons.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
samseed
We're here for a good time, not a long time
230 Fans
03:39 PM on 01/26/2012
I've been paying attention to this C-10 debacle since before the last election. The reason why the last election was called in the first place was because the CONservatives were in CONtempt of parliament. They would not give accurate cost to what the Crime BIlls were going to cost the taxpayers. They eventually released a huge report supposedly outlining some of this, but it was only partially complete. The Conservatives do not care what this costs. If it costs too much, we'll be looking at a privatized prison state just like the US.
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CarlyQ
Without followers, evil cannot spread.
827 Fans
03:48 PM on 01/26/2012
And privatization of prisons is incentive for the legal system to "create" lawbreakers. Bad idea all around!
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Simple E Anonymous
4 Fans
03:06 PM on 01/26/2012
And Ontario does not have a $1 Billion cheque for you, but you bill it anyway.
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