Tackling Violent Crime Act receives Royal Assent

February 29, 2008

Earlier this month, I wrote to inform my constituents of the importance of passing Bill C-2, the Tacking Violent Crime Act. Finally, after two long years of delay and obstruction by the Liberals in the House of Commons and Senate, our tackling violent crime legislation is finally law. This week, Bill C-2, the Tackling Violent Crime Act, received Royal Assent. This new law contains long awaited measures that will help safeguard Canadians against those who commit serious and violent crimes.

The days of soft, lenient penalties are over. Dangerous criminals who threaten to our communities will now get the jail time and penalties they deserve. These tough new penalties will crack down on gun criminals, repeat violent or sexual offenders, impaired drivers, and sexual predators targeting our youth.

The Tackling Violent Crime Act strengthens the Criminal Code in five areas.
tougher mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes;
new bail provisions which require that those accused of serious gun crimes show why they shouldn’t be kept in jail while awaiting trial;
better protection for youth from adult sexual predators by increasing the age of protection for sexual activity from 14 years to 16 years;
more effective sentencing and monitoring to prevent dangerous, high-risk offenders from offending again; and
new ways to detect and investigate drug-impaired driving and stronger penalties for alcohol impaired driving.

These changes have been long overdue, but late is better than never. We are proud to have pushed for these changes for the past two years. Today, families and communities in Kootenay Columbia and across Canada can feel safer.

This Government will continue to deliver on what is important to Canadians – the safety and security of their communities – because protecting society is a priority for this Government, not an afterthought.