CANADIAN COMMUNITIES NOW SAFER: TOUGHER LAWS COME INTO FORCE FOR SERIOUS GUN CRIMES AND SEXUAL PREDATORS

OTTAWA – May 1, 2008  –  The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today welcomed the coming into force of three sections of the Tackling Violent Crime Act

These three sections provide for:

• Better protection for youth from adult sexual predators by increasing the age of protection for sexual activity from 14 years to 16 years; 
• Tougher mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes; and
• New bail provisions which require those accused of serious gun crimes to show why they shouldn’t be kept in jail while awaiting trial.

“For years now, we have recognized the serious concerns of Canadians who feel unsafe in their communities as a result of sexual predators and dangerous criminals using guns.  That’s why our Government has worked tirelessly to make these legislative changes, even while facing barriers and opposition along the way,” said Minister Nicholson.  “Today we are proud that these changes are officially part of Canada’s Criminal Code, and our communities will be better protected from these criminals.”

In order to allow extra time for police, prosecutors, defence counsel, judges and other criminal justice system personnel to prepare to implement the important changes being introduced through the Tackling Violent Crime Act, the two remaining sections of the Act -- impaired driving and dangerous offenders -- will come into force on July 2, 2008. 

These provisions of the Act will provide for:

• More effective sentencing and monitoring to prevent dangerous, high-risk offenders from offending again; and
• New ways to detect and investigate drug-impaired driving as well as stronger penalties for impaired driving.

In addition to its comprehensive measures to tackle violent crime and in keeping with its commitment to make Canadian communities safer, the Government of Canada has also:

• Introduced legislation to tackle property theft, including the serious crime of auto theft;

• Passed legislation to increase penalties for those convicted of street racing;
• Passed legislation to end conditional sentences (house arrest) for serious personal injury and violent offences, including sexual assault;
• Introduced a National Anti-Drug Strategy, including legislation that would provide mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes;
• Introduced legislation to strengthen the Youth Criminal Justice Act; and announced a comprehensive review of this Act in 2008;
• Introduced legislation to protect Canadians against identity theft; and
• Invested in crime prevention community projects across Canada that target youth.

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For an online version of the Tackling Violent Crime Act (Bill C-2) visit www.parl.gc.ca.

For more information:

Darren Eke
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621