Mr. James Moore (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, CPC): Over my time as the Member of Parliament for the Tri-Cities, no issue has been more frequently raised by my constituents than frustration over the seeming injustice in our justice system.
I, and this Conservative government, have heard those concerns, and we are taking action to make our streets safer.
For example, we have introduced tough new legislation:
Bill C-9 will limit or eliminate house arrest for dangerous, violent offenders.
Bill C-10 will establish a mandatory minimum amount of jail time for gun violence.
Bill C-19 will create a new criminal code offence for street racing.
Bill C-22 will raise the age of consent to 16 and protect tens of thousands of children from sexual abuse.
In our budget we committed millions toward tougher border security, and millions toward hiring new police officers from coast to coast.
The first responsibility of government, before all else, is to protect law-abiding citizens from those who would do them harm.
For 13 years the Liberals did nothing.
And for 13 years the NDP encouraged the Liberals to soften already soft laws on criminals.
This Conservative Government is getting tough on crime and protecting Canadian families.