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Prime Minister pledges to tackle crime and make Canadian communities safer

19 April 2006

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Speaking before the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce today in Winnipeg, Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged to “crack down on crime, put the rights of the victims and their families before the criminals who have harmed them, and restore safe and secure communities across the country,” the Prime Minister said.

“Tackling crime is critical because it is becoming increasingly clear that rising levels of gun, gang and drug crime are not just a series of tragic, random events. Organized criminal enterprise is fuelling much of the crime problem. Most importantly, we will work to safeguard the Canadian way of life by tackling the growing problem of gun, gang and drug crime.

“This spring, we will undertake the first three steps in our plan to introduce comprehensive criminal justice reforms.

We will introduce mandatory minimum prison sentences for serious, repeat and violent crime,

Put an end the practice of conditional sentences and house arrest,

And raise the age of consent for sexual relations between children and adults from 14 to 16 years of age.

“So the question for the Opposition is simple. Do they support our direct measures to toughen criminal justice?

“Canada’s new national government will keep its commitment to Canada’s communities. Canadians have a right to live in safe streets and safe neighbourhoods. We have promised to take action, and we will act on those promises,” the Prime Minister concluded.

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