EDITOR,
I am deeply concerned with Stephen Harper and the Conservative government's attempt to pass Bill C-10, more commonly known as the Crime Bill. Rather than make Canada's streets safer, this bill will punish the most vulnerable in our society (young people, those with low-income, First Nations communities, and Canadians suffering from mental illness, addictions and poverty) through harsh mandatory sentencing, massive prison expansion, and cutbacks to rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
While there is a role for punishment that is proportionate to the crime and wisely chosen for the circumstance, studies have shown that to truly make Canada safer, we must take an approach that addresses the root cause of crime, rather than create a meaner criminal justice system. Steps such as increasing services for the mentally ill, rehabilitating young offenders and helping prisoners reintegrate into society have proven to effectively reduce the crime rate to historic lows in Canada (its lowest since 1973).
Tens of thousands of Canadians are already speaking out against the Crime Bill. Do your research, learn the true impacts of Bill C-10, and stop the Crime Bill from making Canada meaner, not safer. Visit leadnow.ca to send a clear message to the Harper government that the citizens of Canada do not support the Crime Bill.
Anna McClean
Squamish
