Strong Leadership that’s Tough on Crime

February 28, 2008

Yesterday, Canadians came one step closer to safer streets when the Tackling Violent Crime Act was passed following a long delay in the Liberal-dominated Senate.

The Tackling Violent Crime Act cracks down on gun violence, repeat offenders, impaired driving, and the sexual exploitation of children. It responds to the clear priorities of Canadians: victims should be respected, children should be protected and dangerous criminals should be held accountable for their crimes.

These new protections were a long time in coming. Despite being given a clear mandate to tackle crime, the Conservative Government’s tough legislation was, for months, obstructed and delayed by Liberals, both in the House of Commons and in the un-elected, un-accountable Senate.

That’s why in last fall’s Speech from the Throne, the Conservative Government combined five separate justice bills into the Tackling Violent Crime Act and made its passage a matter of confidence. Any future Liberal obstruction of the bill in the House of Commons would trigger an election.

When the Liberals tried to play the same tricks in the Senate, the Conservative Government made it clear that it would consider any obstruction from senators to be a confidence measure as well.

It was only when the Liberal Senators were faced with a hard deadline and the threat of an election campaign that they allowed the Tackling Violent Crime Act to pass.

Canadians are on the verge of safer streets because of strong leadership form the Conservative Government in the face of intense Liberal opposition and obstruction.

While Stéphane Dion and the Liberals constantly put partisan political interests ahead of tough measures to fight crime, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Government will always stand up for what is right and do whatever it takes to deliver safer streets for all Canadians.