tough on crime
Vic Toews blames media for Rahim Jaffer 'smear job'
Jane Taber, Globe and MailStephen Harper’s senior Manitoba minister has launched a public attack on a journalist from his province over her reporting of the Rahim Jaffer affair, calling it a “smear job.”
In an angry letter, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews accuses Winnipeg Free Press reporter Mia Rabson, the only Manitoba reporter covering Parliament Hill, of advancing the “Liberal spin.”
Mr. Toews writes that Ms. Rabson “regularly engages” in “conspiracy theory” stories “because they don’t involve a lot of thought or work.”
Former Harper aide says Jaffer should apologize
Tonda MacCharles, The StarOTTAWA – Most of Rahim Jaffer’s Conservative caucus colleagues dashed, squirmed, or told reporters to ask Ontario’s Crown why their former national caucus chair got a “break” – as the judge called it—from prosecution on drunk driving and cocaine possession charges.
But Kory Teneycke, a former spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said Jaffer is the one who owes the public an explanation and an apology.
Harper Government Borrowing, Increasing Taxes, to Build Prisons - Crime at 30 year low
By Janice Tibbetts, Canwest News Service
OTTAWA — The head of Canada's prison system says there will be "major construction initiatives" in the coming years to cope with federal legislation to imprison more offenders longer — an assertion backed by new spending estimates showing a 43 per cent increase in penitentiary capital costs next year.
Don Head, commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada, set the stage for prison expansion in a recent e-mail, obtained by Canwest News Service.
Tories bristle when asked to explain Rahim Jaffer's 'slap on the wrist'
By. Jane Taber, Globe and Mail
Stephen Harper’s tough-on-crime Conservatives were accused of being not-so-tough when it comes to one of their own today during a particularly nasty Question Period today.
Winnipeg Liberal MP Anita Neville raised the issue of the $500 fine given to former Tory MP Rahim Jaffer after he pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving earlier today. Her questions – and accusations – touched off a firestorm in the Commons.
Harper tough on crime? Not at all
By John Hutton, Winnipeg SunDespite having spent most of last year arguing that his “tough on crime” agenda was urgently needed, Stephen Harper killed off most of it when he prorogued Parliament.
This means the legislation will have to be re-introduced and debated all over again over the next few months.
It is also a second chance for Canadians to see that his initiatives aren’t going to accomplish much, but they are going to cost taxpayers a lot of money.
Harper’s agenda involves increasing the amount of time people have to serve in jail or prison (at taxpayer expense) by imposing more minimum sentences, and making it harder for inmates to get parole.
‘I am pleased to have this opportunity to respond’ - Rob Nicholson
Rob Nicholson, Published in MacleansA few weeks ago, Liberal Senator James Cowan wrote the Justice Minister requesting a correcting of the record. A few days ago, the Justice Minister wrote back and Rob Nicholson’s office has kindly passed along that reply.
Full text after the jump.
March 1, 2010
The Honourable James S. Cowan, Q.C.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Room 375-S, Centre Block
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Room 375-S, Centre Block
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4
What does “Tough on Crime” Mean?
Harper’s tough-on-crime policy may just hurt Aboriginal women By Amy German
Prime Minister Stephen Harper ushered in five new senators at the end of January to help solidify his tough-on-crime policy, but tough on crime might just mean being tougher on some of Canada’s most marginalized people.
Perception and reality differ
Chris McCormick, The Daily GleanerRecently I listened to Michael Enright and his media-files team discuss the public's irrational fear of crime.
They began with a recent Angus Reid poll which found a disturbingly high percentage of Canadians believe crime has increased.
Obviously it hasn't, and in fact, we haven't seen such a relative degree of safety since the 1960s.
The panellists then discussed possible reasons for why people get it wrong.
The impression I came away with is that politicians distort issues to get votes, the media sensationalizes by leading with what bleeds, the police exaggerate crime to justify budget requests, and the public is too dim to see what's going on.
Soft on truth
By Susan Riley, The Ottawa CitizenWhen you look beyond the paternalism, cynicism, genuine concern -- whatever motives drive the Harper government's punitive approach to crime -- only one question matters. Is it effective?
Will closing Vancouver's safe injection site, Insite, reduce drug addiction and related crime? Will imposing six-month minimum jail sentences on anyone caught with as few as five marijuana plants inhibit pot-smoking among teenagers? Will expanding prisons reduce violence in our streets?
Tough-on-crime minister once opposed mandatory sentences
By Janice Tibbetts, Canwest News ServiceJustice Minister Rob Nicholson, one of Canada's most vocal champions of fixed minimum prison sentences, once opposed the idea of removing discretion for judges to sentence as they see fit.
As a Tory backbencher in 1988, Nicholson was vice-chairman of a committee that rejected the expansion of automatic incarceration, asserting it doesn't work, overcrowds jails and takes big social and financial tolls.
The sweeping report on sentencing, based on a yearlong study of the criminal justice system, concluded that judges should follow guidelines, but that "each case should be decided on its own facts."
