Speech

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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New measures to protect Canadians from dangerous offenders

October 12, 2006
Toronto

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Good morning.

I'd like to begin by thanking the Toronto Police Association and its president, Dave Wilson, for hosting us here today at their headquarters.

I'd also like to acknowledge Tony Cannavino, the President of the Canadian Police Association as well as Steve Sullivan, President of the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime and Joe Wamback, founder of the Canadian Crime Victims Foundation for coming to this event, along with, of course, many police officers and victims and citizens.

For years, one of the defining features of this country was our historically low rates of crime.

But rising levels of gun, gang and drug crime have shown we cannot take this for granted – and Canadians are looking for action.

The relative safety of big cities like Toronto compared to their American counterparts has been a difference of which we are rightly proud.

Put simply, safe streets have been part of the Canadian way of life – a defining characteristic, almost a birthright, that we cherish.

But rising levels of gun, gang and drug crime have shown we cannot take this for granted – and Canadians are looking for action.

Upon taking office, Canada’s New Government committed itself to tackling crime.

And this is exactly what we have done.

We have introduced:

Legislation that would impose mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes;

Legislation that would end house arrest for serious crimes;

Legislation that would raise the Age of Protection from 14 to 16 to safeguard our children from sexual predators; and

Legislation that would crack down on street racing.

But there’s more that we can do, more than we must do. And today I am here to announce that there’s more that we will do.

Next week, when Parliament resumes sitting, Canada’s New Government will table dangerous offenders legislation that would deal directly with serious, hardened, repeat offenders.

In a nutshell, we want to impose stricter conditions on repeat offenders to keep such criminals from offending again and again.

We will work to ensure that those who are truly dangerous will be put in jail for an indefinite period of time.

And we will make it easier to seek dangerous offender designations so that such individuals will serve indeterminate sentences.

In order to do this:

First, we will stop giving violent or sexual offenders the benefit of the doubt by instituting reverse onus on dangerous repeat sexual or violent offenders.

Up until now, the onus has been on the Crown to prove why a serious repeat sexual or violent offender should be declared a danger to society and put away indefinitely.

We believe the onus should be on offenders convicted of a third violent or sexual offence to prove why they should not be declared dangerous offenders.

If they can’t do this, they will be put in jail for an indeterminate period of time – and they won’t be eligible for parole until 7 years have passed.

Second, our legislation will put convicted criminals on a tighter leash by increasing the maximum duration of peace bonds from 12 to 24 months.

Peace bonds represent a contract of sorts between convicted criminals and the broader community.

They lay out acceptable conditions of behaviour for released criminals and put restrictions on their behaviour.

By putting convicted criminals on a tighter leash after release, we hope to better facilitate their re-integration into the community.

Third, in addition to these legislative reforms, we will adopt measures to improve how we deal with dangerous offenders.

Including making investments in the National Flagging System, which tracks potentially dangerous offenders through inter-agency collaboration and pre-sentence reports.

Strengthening the National Flagging System will strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to track high risk individuals.

And it will ensure that they receive appropriate sentences should they reoffend.

Next week’s tabling of dangerous offenders legislation will mark another step in our agenda to tackle crime, and protect the Canadian way of life.

This bill will impose stricter conditions on repeat violent and sexual offenders to keep such criminals from offending again and again.

Canadians from across this land have told us they want action on crime.

And we are delivering.

But we cannot get the job done alone.

We need the support of Opposition MPs to help pass this and the other important legislation we have introduced to tackle crime.

Frankly, the Opposition made a lot of supportive noises about this during the election but has, more often than not, been dragging their feet since.

So, if you want to help keep dangerous offenders off our streets, or
Take strong action against gun crime, or
End house arrest, or
Raise the age of protection, or
Deal with the problem of street-racing

Call your local MP;

Write them a letter; and

Tell them to get onside and get this legislation through Parliament as quickly as possible.

To make our streets safer.

To make communities secure.

And to ensure our families and children will be protected from repeat, sexual and violent offenders.

Together, we can help preserve and protect our Canadian way of life.

Thank you.

And I will take your questions.

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