Canadian Communities Now Safer As Tackling Violent Crime Act Receives Royal Assent

March 03, 2008

OTTAWA – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on Thursday welcomed the Royal Assent of the Tackling Violent Crime Act (Bill C-2), which makes changes to Canada’s Criminal Code that will better protect Canadians against those who commit serious and violent crimes.

“I am proud that our Government’s hard work paid off and I am relieved that this Bill has finally been passed,” said Member of Parliament, Brian Jean. “With the passage of this Bill, the days of lenient penalties for dangerous criminals are gone. This Bill toughens sentencing and bail for violent criminals, better protects children, and helps police crack down on impaired driving.”

The new law strengthens the Criminal Code in the following 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 impaired driving.

The majority of these reforms will come into force within the next few months, giving the public, police, prosecutors, defence counsel and judges sufficient time to familiarize themselves with these important changes to Canada’s criminal law.

“I was pleased to have the opportunity as a Senator to give this legislation the attention and consideration it deserved,” said Senator Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate. “Now that this legislation has received Royal Assent, it will go a long way to strengthening the security of our communities.”

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:

• 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.