Canadian families deserve to feel safe, to know criminals will be held accountable for their actions, and to be sure that we are doing everything we can do to protect our children from the vicious cycle of drugs and crime. Unfortunately, too many of our neighborhoods & communities are being endangered by gang and gun violence.  Areas like Newton and Guildford have crime rates more than twice the national average.

For too many years Liberal politicians in Ottawa have weakened our laws so that the justice system puts the rights of criminals ahead of the rights of law-abiding citizens.  Convicted felons are too often let off with a slap on the wrist. There is no truth in sentencing and the courts are a revolving door with the same people committing crimes over and over again. The end result is that honest, hardworking Canadians no longer feel safe on their streets or in their homes. 

The Conservative government of Stephen Harper has made reducing crime a priority. Already we have taken serious steps to address this unacceptable situation. We have passed Tackling Violent Crime Act, hard-hitting legislation that imposes mandatory minimum-length jail sentences on gun criminals, keeps repeat dangerous offenders behind bars, raises the age of consent, and cracks down on those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We have also put more money into the RCMP and law enforcement, including money for an additional 3,500 new officers. We have cracked down on street racing; restricted the use of house arrest for serious crimes; invested in a new National Anti-Drug Strategy; and assisted communities to keep Canadian youth away from drugs, gangs and crime.

Canadians have made it very clear that they want to see real leadership and real action on crime.  They want their government to move quickly and decisively to tackle crime. That is why the Harper government has kept its word to Canadians with new tools and new laws that allow Canada’s police and court systems to keep our communities safe.