Drug, gun bills an insult, prof says

By CP
Ottawa Sun
Sat, November 26, 2005

With possibly 72 hours left in their government, the Liberals introduced legislation to crack down on gun violence and ban bulk exports of prescription drugs to the U.S.

The timing of both measures, which have virtually no hope of passing before the expected defeat of the Liberals in a confidence vote Monday, were called an insult to the intelligence of Canadians.

"Like so much else they're doing, it's election posturing," said Michael Bliss, a history professor at the University of Toronto.

TOUGHER SENTENCES

Besieged with calls to halt the dramatic increase in gun crimes in Toronto, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler introduced amendments to toughen minimum sentences for firearms smuggling, trafficking and the illegal possession of loaded handguns in public places.

Cotler all but acknowledged the legislation wouldn't pass before his government is defeated, but said it was important to denounce the growing gun menace and for the government to signal its intentions.