What are the new anti-crime bills?
The Conservative government tabled two bills. One, Bill C-10, will increase the mandatory minimum sentences for crimes involving firearms, like robberies and attempted murder. The other bill, Bill C-9, will eliminate the use of conditional sentences, including house arrest, for serious offences. What is a conditional sentence? A conditional sentence is a prison term that may be served in the community, if certain criteria are met. These conditions are: • the offence cannot be punishable by a minimum term of imprisonment • the sentence cannot exceed two years less a day • the judge must be convinced that public safety will not be threatened by allowing the offender to serve a sentence in the community; and, • the sentence must be consistent with the sentencing principles in the Criminal Code, which include denunciation and deterrence • under the proposed legislation, a conditional sentence is not an option for anyone convicted of an offence prosecuted by indictment that carries a maximu
