Liberals, NDP and Bloc MPs Gut Anti-Crime Legislation

October 25, 2006

Irresponsible amendments will allow robbers and thieves to serve time at home. Liberal, NDP and Bloc MPs have voted to allow criminals who burn down your house, steal your car or rob you on the street to serve their sentences at home.

Canada’s New Government introduced tough new crime legislation that would curtail the use of house arrest and put thousands of arsonists, car thieves and robbers in jail to serve their time.

But the Liberals, NDP and Bloc MPs have gutted that legislation because they think more criminals should be able to serve their time at home in their rumpus rooms.

Banding together at a meeting of the House of Commons Justice Committee, the Opposition parties amended Bill C-9 to strip away limitations placed on the ability of judges to allow house arrest for crimes like robbery, arson and home break-ins.

Thanks to this opposition amendment, criminals convicted of offences including arson, theft over $5000, break-and-enter and robbery are once again eligible for house arrest.

Canadians are telling their elected representatives that its time to get serious about tackling crime. Bill C-9 is one of many reforms proposed by Canada’s New Government to crack down on criminals.

Given their MPs’ performances yesterday, Liberal Leader Bill Graham, NDP Leader Jack Layton, and Bloc Québecois Leader Gilles Duceppe owe Canadians some straight answers:

• Will the Liberals, NDP and Bloc oppose the new government’s proposed ban on street racing?

• Will the Liberals, NDP and Bloc oppose the new government’s proposed mandatory sentences for gun crimes?

• Will the Liberals, NDP and Bloc oppose the new government’s legislation to protect children by raising the age of protection from 14 to 16?

And, the Liberals, NDP and Bloc need to explain to Canadians why they think hardened criminals should be serving their time in the living room instead of a jail cell.

Meanwhile, Canada’s New Government will continue to move forward with tough, sensible measures to tackle crime and protect Canadians.