Tackling Violent Crime Act Receives Royal Assent

March 04, 2008

OTTAWA – Last week, the Tackling Violent Crime Act received Royal Assent. This new law contains long awaited measures that will help safeguard Canadians against those who commit serious and violent crimes.

“After two long years of delay and obstruction by the Liberals in the House of Commons and Senate, our tackling violent crime legislation is finally law,” said Guy Lauzon.

The Tackling Violent Crime Act strengthens the Criminal Code in the following five areas:

tougher mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes;

• new bail provisions which require that those accused of serious gun crimes show why they shouldn’t be kept in jail while awaiting trial;
• better protection for youth from adult sexual predators by increasing the age of protection for sexual activity from 14 years to 16 years;
• more effective sentencing and monitoring to prevent dangerous, high-risk offenders from offending again; and
• new ways to detect and investigate drug-impaired driving and stronger penalties for alcohol impaired driving.
  

“These tough new penalties will crack down on gun criminals, repeat violent or sexual offenders, impaired drivers, and sexual predators targeting our youth. These changes have been long overdue, but late is better than never,” said Lauzon.

The Conservative Government will continue to deliver on what is important to Canadians – the safety and security of their communities – because protecting society is a priority for this Government, not an afterthought.