OTTAWA - Bill C-10, dubbed the "Safe Streets and Communities Act" by the Conservative government, receives final approval in the House of Commons on Monday.
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Here's a summary of nine key measures in the legislation.
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The 9 Key Changes In The Tory Crime Bill
With files from <em>The Canadian Press</em>.
(CP/Alamy)
9. Bringing Prisoners Home
Provides the government, through the minister of Public Safety, more discretion to decide if a Canadian imprisoned abroad can transfer home to serve his or her sentence. (Getty)
8. Rights For Terror Victims
Introduces new measures to allow victims of terrorist acts to sue responsible individuals, groups or state sponsors in Canadian courts. (Alamy)
7. Denying Work Permits
Gives the Immigration minister new powers to deny work permits to foreigners based on the rationale they may be exploited. (Alamy)
6. Victims Get More Say In Parole
Provides victims of crime more say in parole decisions under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. Increases size of parole board by 25 per cent. (Alamy)
5. Fewer Conditional Sentences
Reduces sharply the use of conditional sentences, such as house arrest, for a variety of property and other offences. (Jupiter Images)
4. Pardons Harder To Get
Changes the pardons system and makes certain ex-convicts, such as some sex offenders and repeat offenders, ineligible for life. Essentially doubles the waiting period for pardon eligibility to five years for summary offences and 10 years for indictable offences. Replaces the term "pardon" by "record suspension." (Alamy)
3. Harsher Sentences For Young Offenders
Sets tougher penalties for young offenders, including mandatory consideration of adult sentences and possible publication ban removal for violent crimes. Expands the definition of violent crime to include reckless acts that don't actually cause harm. (Alamy)
2. Mandatory Minimums For Sex Crimes
Establishes new mandatory minimum sentences and longer maximums for sex crimes against minors, including the addition of two new offences related to grooming or luring minors. (Alamy)
1. Mandatory Minimums For Drug Crimes
Provides new mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences related to production and distribution, including mandatory sentences for growing as few as six pot plants. Doubles maximum sentences to 14 years from seven. Offers potential exemptions for those entering drug treatment programs. (Getty)
OTTAWA - Bill C-10, dubbed the "Safe Streets and Communities Act" by the Conservative government, receives final approval in the House of Commons on Monday.
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OTTAWA - Bill C-10, dubbed the "Safe Streets and Communities Act" by the Conservative government, receives final approval in the House of Commons on Monday.
PHOTOS: 15 THINGS CRITICS FEAR IN T...
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With Parliament's resumption this week, the Senate will consider the Conservative omnibus crime bill, C-10. In particular, amendments by the Government are expected as early as today to correct a mistake the Conservatives made in the House, a mistake which could have been avoided had the Government paid attention.
Currently, Canadian law prohibits states from being sued except in relation to commercial matters. As such, state sponsors of terror are shielded from civil redress, and Canadian tax dollars are used to finance the defending of that state's immunity from liability. The Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act will fix this.
Steven Harper is going to destroy our beloved country, one inch at a time.
You get what you vote for. By the time he is through, we are going to be owned by China, broke and he will be wealthy and living in the States just like his mentor Mulroney and paying ten bucks for a gallon of OUR OWN GAS.
Opygollopy: Steven Harper is going to destroy our beloved country, one
I totally disagree with the drugs mandatory sentences. I am a 60 year old woman who has never smoked pot or did drugs. Ever.
I am totally for legalizing pot. I have seen people stoned on pot and I have seen people drunk. There is nothing worse than a drunk.
Legalize pot, tax it, that would throw a monkey wrench into the drug cartels, make the government money TO PAY OUT ALL THOSE SWEET PENSIONS FOR PUBLIC WORKERS.
Opygollopy: I totally disagree with the drugs mandatory sentences. I am
they should call this the more bigger jails bill. no money for crime prevention or rehabilitation. Bill will allow incarceration of more poor = government could reduce more crime by alleviating poverty
bbhachu: they should call this the more bigger jails bill. no
really, Canada does not want to follow the pattern of mandatory minimums for drug offenses. all Canadians have to do is look at the American prison system
Anne_Mccormick: really, Canada does not want to follow the pattern of
Thats what they want? Privatize the prison system since the cost of additionnal offenders will be too high for a unions federal workforce - backed by a lobby of Haliburtonian groups
RavenHawk: Thats what they want? Privatize the prison system since the
The simple problem with the Bill is that it will take soft nonviolent crimes and actually punish them worse than serious offenses and the dumbest of all has to be the 6 plant stupidity. They may not be harden criminals coming into the Canadain Penal system but they sure will be coming out, not to mention the costs associated with the additional incarceration, with absolutely no safety benefit to the canadian population I guess this is the easiest way for the Conservatives to handle the Mentally ill.
Gyice50: The simple problem with the Bill is that it will
i hate slide shows on any site trying to present a story, 99 percent of the time, i just google the same story elsewhere so i dont have to go through the tedious process.
GENERALNATTY: i hate slide shows on any site trying to present
LOLOLOL well, the instigators of this bill have repeatedly displayed contempt for laws and the constitution, so......apparently these laws aren't for everyone. Rich people who don't support the Tories are probably no more exempt than poor people who don't support them either. And poor people who stupidly support the Tories aren't going to be given a free ride....only the Tory power-players are.
This is not a country ruled by laws. But only by expediency on the part of those who have seized power (by illegal means).
Skookum1: LOLOLOL well, the instigators of this bill have repeatedly displayed
One major problem--those with the greater financial resources, will be able to afford better legal representation;and, therefore, usually get outcomes more in their favor. Don't believe this? Ask Chief Justice Mclaughlin.
evanzac503: One major problem--those with the greater financial resources, will be
Canada does not have the prison capacity for these measures, its showboating, half of these guys are gonna be sentenced to years the prison system simply cant accomodate and your taxes are going to go way up to cover it, its about 112 dollars per prisoner per day plus the cost of constructing new prisons which will not only take decades to build but would not cover the increasing numbers of prisoners.
If prisons are overcrowded now, where some people are 3 men in a one man cell how are they going to handle the influx? They can't.
There are parts of the bill that is good, like the parts for human trafficking, terrorism and child sex crimes but putting 10 year delays on getting pardons, so people cant get jobs to turn their lives around does not make anyone safer it gives no incentive to go to school or university because upon finishing they will not have a chance to pass a record check to get a decent job. So they will take up crime as a career.
GENERALNATTY: Canada does not have the prison capacity for these measures,
It's the provinces that have to foot the Con bill, so they'll balk and be forced to not follow the laws. Legal challenges and much hilarity will ensue.
yer: It's the provinces that have to foot the Con bill,
When proposition 19 was tabled and voted upon in California, the organizations opposed were financed by the pharmaceutical and liquor industries. Not a thing to do with science or research.
I will post the link when I find it, read it on Democratic Underground back when it was news.
freddyc: When proposition 19 was tabled and voted upon in California,
Both. The neo-cons are conencted to teh American 'private detention' companies same as the GOP. Also they're connected though Clement (owned 25% of one while minister of Health) to big pharma comapnies.
AND they also get to appear 'tough on crime' and reduce the number of social worekrs and otehr lefty types fro mteh justice system.
It's win win win win for thier party, but a huge loss for Canada.
In ten years we're goig nto have the same trouble that the Americans did in the mid 1990 and have to repeal all these stupid laws anyways.
Tyler_Austin: Both. The neo-cons are conencted to teh American 'private detention'
the media contiues to ignore the fact,that under this new law,someone growing 6 plants(no professional crime group is growing only 6 plants)will get twice as much time as someone who flashes a kid on a public playground.90 days for flashing a kid,6 months for growing 6 plants.
So,if you area responsible parent and happen to grow a few plants for personal reasons,you are considered more dangerous than someone who pubicly flashes a kid.Am I the only person outraged by this.Everybody knows someone who smokes/grows a little pot and they are basically good people,can you say the same about pedophiles?
Rob_McCullough: the media contiues to ignore the fact,that under this new
Good point ! If people go to jail for minor offenses for three years and their only crime is smoking pot or growing a few plants. Then drunk drivers should get three years to. I have never seen anyone get abusive on marijuana, but I have seen drunks get mean and abusive on alcohol ! Drunk drivers kill people!
The Harper Government will not listen to common sense!, or the rest of Canada!
Marg_Wood: Good point ! If people go to jail for minor
Some words to reflect upon.....
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt in an April 29, 1938 message to Congress
freddyc: Some words to reflect upon..... "The first truth is that
Harper would say "who was Franklin?" Remember he already wrote him out of the Second World War by saying conservatives won the war over Hitler and Japan. Nothing could be farther from the truth of course but that's the kind of self serving monster we have running the country under a fraudulent mandate.
BCSLAVE: Harper would say "who was Franklin?" Remember he already wrote
Until this Govt confirms its legitimacy through a public inquiry into the Election Fraud scam, and through byelections in the ridings where fraud occurred, it has no business conducting the nation's business and the Opposition parties should refuse to recognize it as the legitimate govt!
By even listening to Mr. Harper and his people, the Opposition is recognizing the CONs as the legitimate govt. They are lending them a legitimacy they may not actually possess.
Its time for the Opposition to grow spines and lay down the law. No further bills or debate should occur in the house until the govt demonstrates it was legitimately elected!
These people should be held in contempt and not given any credence whatsoever!
And until Mr. Harper orders a full investigation and inquiry, and calls byelections in the ridings that were affected by the fraud, he should be held in contempt of parliament and the people of Canada!
Will_Webster: Until this Govt confirms its legitimacy through a public inquiry
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First Posted: 03/12/2012 3:13 pm Updated: 05/30/2012 8:59 pm