Cotler rejects tougher gun sentences

Wire Services
Brandon Sun
22 September 2005

TORONTO � Canada�s justice minister says the country�s gun laws are among the toughest on the books, and he dismissed calls for new minimum sentences as "a quick-fix solution" to a spate of gunplay in Toronto.

Irwin Cotler made the remarks Wednesday before hosting a one-day forum on urban violence at the University of Toronto, to which 120 city and government leaders were invited.

The meeting was called to address Toronto�s escalating gun violence, which has claimed 41 lives this year.

"We have a very tough regime already in place.  That�s why we have to look to other initiatives that may need to be taken," Cotler said.