Calls for five- and ten-year mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun crimes, hiring more police, cracking down on smuggling, and increased support for youth at risk.
TORONTO– Speaking in downtown Toronto, metres away from the site of the Boxing Day shootings, Conservative leader Stephen Harper released the party’s plan to Stand up for Security.
“We should be able to walk freely on our streets. We should feel safe in our neighbourhoods. We should live without fear in our cities,” said Harper. “We should not view these as luxuries, but our rights as Canadians – as fundamental characteristics of the Canadian way of life, on which we will not compromise.”
The Stand up for Security plan includes:
- Mandatory minimum prison sentences of five or ten years for major firearms offences, including five years for possession of a loaded restricted or prohibited weapon such as a handgun, and an end to revolving door bail and parole policies;
- Filling more than 1,000 unfilled RCMP positions and working with provinces and municipalities to hire at least 2,500 more police officers across the country;
- Measures to crack down on firearms smuggling and toughen security at Canada’s border crossings, including giving our customs agents the support and equipment they need to do their job; and
- Investing $50 million over five years in programs to promote crime prevention and assist youth at risk.
The plan also includes a broad series of justice reforms including sentencing reform, dealing with sex offenders, effective gun control, strengthening the Youth Criminal Justice Act, promoting victims’ rights, ensuring effective deportation laws, and creating a national drug strategy.
The plan is based on extensive discussions Conservative MPs have had with unions representing front-line law enforcement, including the Customs and Excise Union (CEUDA), local and national police associations, and corrections officers, and with victims’ advocates such as Joe Wamback of Toronto and Rev. Don Schiemann, father of one the RCMP officers killed in Mayerthorpe, Alberta.
“Recent acts of violence here in Toronto and across Canada have proven that idle talk does not save lives,” said Harper. “The revolving door of our justice system must be closed. We need to put more cops on our streets, and we need to crack down on smuggling.”
Reacting to Harper’s announcement, CEUDA president Ron Moran said, “We are very pleased with Mr. Harper’s proposals on the border. This represents the most serious plan that we have seen from any political party to enforce effective control at our border crossings and to give Canada’s customs agents the powers and resources they need.”
