Manitoba's Justice minister wants mandatory prison terms

canada.com
Wednesday, September 28, 2005

WINNIPEG -- Manitoba's justice minister and the federal justice critic want Ottawa to introduce mandatory minimum prison terms for drug dealers and violent criminals.

Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh says people convicted of illegal firearm smuggling and trafficking should go to jail for at least four years.

Mackintosh says there's a common theme among many justice officials across the country who want stricter sentencing for drug dealers and violent criminals.

Tory justice critic Vic Toews says people are dying on the street in many cities throughout Canada because the feds haven't eliminated house arrest and won't impose mandatory prison sentences.

He says it's clear existing Liberal justice policies are failing.

Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler told the House of Commons yesterday the Grits plan to introduce new legislation in the fall to combat issues of conditional sentences.