Time to Pass "Tough on Crime" Legislation

February 13, 2008

Yesterday, Senators indicated that they intended to quickly pass legislation to allocate money from the Conservative Government's Community Development Trust, which provides over $1 billion in aid to struggling communities across Canada.

This makes it clear that when the Liberal insiders in the Senate believe something is in their personal partisan best interest, they are able to act quickly.

At the same time, this also makes it clear that the Liberal Senators have a hidden agenda when they block and delay the Conservative Government’s badly needed new crime legislation (Bill C2). Bill C2 provides tough new penalties for gun criminals, repeat violent or sexual offenders, and impaired drivers, to name just a few.

This bill was passed by the House of Commons after just a month of debate. To become law, it must be passed by the Senate as well. Unfortunately, since November 29th, Bill C2 has been stalled, as Liberal Senators impose delay after delay. Even now, 69 days after going to the Senate for approval, Bill C2 is not even close to being passed.

This kind of unaccountable, soft-on-crime, obstructionist behaviour not only raises serious questions about the misguided priorities of the Liberal Senators, it also raises serious questions about Stéphane Dion’s weak leadership.

Why is Stéphane Dion allowing his Liberal colleagues in the Senate to block new legal protections for Canadian families? As a result of his actions, the age of sexual consent still has not been raised from 14 to 16, nor have mandatory minimum sentences been introduced for violent gun crimes along with a host of other very important measures.

Is it true that Stéphane Dion is unable to control these powerful Liberal insiders?

Or is it that Stéphane Dion wants these same Liberal insiders to do his dirty work for him and block the legislation on which he, himself, is too scared to take a stand?

Whether Stéphane Dion is frightened of standing up to Liberal Senators or frightened to stand up for what he believes, the simple truth is the same. Stéphane Dion’s weak leadership will make it easier for criminals to go free and put innocent families at unnecessary risk.

Guy Lauzon, M.P.