Dion Flip Flops on Mandatory Minimum Sentences

May 30, 2007

Last night, despite promising that he wanted to get “tough on crime” Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and most Liberals present voted AGAINST increasing minimum sentences for gun crimes. While several Liberal MPs stuck by their principles and supported the Conservative government’s legislation, Dion, Paul Martin and the majority of the Liberal caucus flip flopped and opposed expanding mandatory minimum sentences – which they had said they supported during the last election! Why did Dion and most Liberals flip flop on such a serious matter?:

The facts:

• Former Liberal Leader Paul Martin (LaSalle-Emard) called for expanding minimum sentences and suggested the previous Liberal bill could be strengthened: "We had a piece of legislation dealing with mandatory minimums -- and perhaps that should be toughened -- that was in front of the House of Commons that unfortunately died on the order paper when the election was called," Mr. Martin said in a television interview yesterday. "It's one of the reasons we didn't want to have the election at this point." (Globe and Mail, January 4, 2006)
• "Harper has said there should be increases in punishment -- I couldn't agree more," Paul Martin said. "There is no difference of opinion in that area." (Winnipeg Sun, January 3, 2006) Yet last night Paul Martin voted AGAINST Bill C-10 (Division No. 191)
• Paul Martin said that a gun-crime bill tabled on the eve of his government's fall now might need to be toughened as shootings have become a hot-button election issue, especially in Toronto. (Globe and Mail, January 4, 2006)
• On Nov. 25, 2005, the last full day of sitting before the Liberal government was defeated in a no-confidence vote, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler (Mount Royal) put forward a bill doubling some minimum sentences for gun crimes to two years from one. Now, Mr. Martin hinted that might need some changes after the election, when it will be reintroduced if the Liberals are re-elected. (Globe and Mail, January 4, 2006)
• “Tougher penalties – A Liberal government will re-introduce legislation to crack down on violent crimes and gang violence, and to double the mandatory minimum sentences for serious gun-related crimes. These reforms will also prevent courts from using conditional sentences in cases where there was serious personal injury, including all forms of sexual assault; terrorist activities; and organized crime-related offences.” (Liberal Party Platform, Securing Canada’s Success, p.62).
• While Dion and most Liberals flip flopped on their promises, several Liberal MPs stuck to their principles and supported Bill C-10 (including Boshcoff, Sgro, Tonks, McTeague, Karygiannis, Dhaliwal, Chan, Bell)