Tories may revive minimum pot sentences! - Canada - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

Kerouac · 05-02-2010, 11:52 PM

OTTAWA - The Tories are poised to revive a bill that would impose mandatory-minimum sentences on people convicted of growing small numbers of pot plants.

The Conservative government will re-introduce its drug bill this week in the Senate, as part of its continued re-tabling of tough-on-crime legislation that died when the last Parliament was prorogued.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson dropped broad hints Sunday that the new legislation would revive a controversial provision — a mandatory six-month sentence for people convicted of growing as few as five pot plants.

The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee altered the Conservative bill in December raising the minimum-sentence provision to convictions for 200 plants, while preserving a judge's discretion for lesser transgressions.

At the time, Nicholson criticized the Senate and the Liberals for the changes, but the legislative debate ended when Prime Minister Stephen Harper was able to prorogue Parliament. The prime minister stacked the Senate with additional Conservatives to give them a majority in the upper house over the Liberals.

Nicholson said with the Conservatives now in control of the Senate, he expects to get the drug bill passed quickly, as he originally intended it.

"All I'll say is I wasn't impressed by the amendments made in the Senate and again we will be introducing it into the Senate. The bill that we will introduce I'm confident will have a much better chance of passing," Nicholson told The Canadian Press in an interview Sunday.

"They watered down some of the provisions with respect to the penalties. They wanted a separate aboriginal system. And again we want the bill to apply to everybody. And the penalties we were comfortable with."

Nicholson wouldn't give specific details, except to say that, "there will be mandatory-sentencing provisions in the bill."

The December amendments also gave aboriginal convicts an exemption from the minimum-sentence provisions.

The Senate said it wanted to target kingpins and other major players in the drug trade, while giving judges more leeway in dealing with lesser offences.

Many analysts have warned that the Conservatives' tough-on-crime agenda would swell Canadian prisons, and create soaring new costs.

This past week, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the federal price tag for legislation that would end two-for-one credit for time served in pre-custody would be at least $2 billion over five years. That was up from his earlier estimate of $90 million over two years.

Toews only gave that estimate after The Canadian Press reported that the cost could be as high as $10 billion over five years for federal and provincial governments.

Nicholson refused to be drawn into any discussion about the potential costs associated with the drug bill.

"What's the cost to victims when violent individuals are out on the street that shouldn't be?" the justice minister asked Sunday.

"It does cost money to incarcerate people and I believe that Canadians have been willing to pay those costs up to this point and they'll continue to do so. If we don't, then Canadians will be further victimized. That's what victims groups tell me all the time."

The Vancouver police department said it was "disturbed" by the amendments made by Liberal senators, saying they would lead to a proliferation of grow-ops with less than 200 plants.

But groups such as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health told the Senate committee last fall that mandatory-minimum sentences are a bad idea, saying drug dependency is a health issue, not a criminal justice matter.

The group told the committee that mandatory minimums have led to "ballooning" prison populations in the United States, and that several states were now focusing more on drug treatment programs.

The Conservatives have been critical of the Senate in the past for tinkering with legislation that was passed by the House of Commons.

"The bill will continue to focus on drug dealers and organized crime and that was the focus of the bill that I had in the Senate for over six months. This bill will be consistent with that," Nicholson said Sunday.

"It sends out the right message that if you get involved with drug dealing there's going to be serious consequences. It's consistent with what I've been told by law-enforcement agencies and my international counterparts that the people involved in dealing drugs are part of organized crime."

Nicholson said the government also planned this week to reintroduce its auto-theft bill in the Senate and would table a white-collar crime bill in the Commons.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/1...tories_justice

KharmaGirl · 05-02-2010, 11:58 PM

Guess ol Stephen didn't like it when in Ottawa last week the Cheif of Police said he supports decrim and tries not to arrest people.

apartmentblower · 05-03-2010, 12:04 AM

we are all fucked. the public is just too dumb to NOT let this bill get passed again. its just a matter of time

apartmentblower · 05-03-2010, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KharmaGirl

Guess ol Stephen didn't like it when in Ottawa last week the Cheif of Police said he supports decrim and tries not to arrest people.

it doesnt matter they still find willing dumbasses (local langley police chiefs) to say in senate hearings how marijuana is a gateway drug

KharmaGirl · 05-03-2010, 12:10 AM

The public....not really dumb, that's a broad generalization but there are alot of baby boomers who still believe all drugs are bad and who have been lifelong Conservatives. Kinda hard to change someones mind after 50 years, but I keep hoping more young people will vote. Just not for the Conservatives

Kerouac · 05-03-2010, 12:31 AM

200 to 5! That's a drop eh?
Scary times in Canada...fuck things are going ass backwards here.

Dr. Buddington · 05-03-2010, 02:10 PM

Well, the real reason why this bill is being reintroduced, and will unfortunately pass, is that it goes hand in hand with the intentions of the government to bring in a US style privately owned prison system. It is truly unfortunate, but not much can be done to prevent it.

Kalicokitty · 05-03-2010, 02:27 PM

"It does cost money to incarcerate people and I believe that Canadians have been willing to pay those costs up to this point and they'll continue to do so. If we don't, then Canadians will be further victimized. That's what victims groups tell me all the time."

Further victimized???? Come on, show me these "groups" that have been so "victimized" by growers, bullshit.

Using victims of other crimes to argue for manditory jail time for non voilent, small time growers that hurt no one is a joke.

Kerouac · 05-03-2010, 03:32 PM

I agree , this will drive the price up per gram causing more people to do bad things.They don't fucking have a clue do they!

Reverend Mojo · 05-03-2010, 11:18 PM

The re-introduction of bill C15 into the Senate is not a MAY. It's a done deal to pass now that the Conservatives loaded the Senate with Conservative members.

People are wondering where the money is going to come from. Finally!

Canadian voters are so uniformed and sheep like :(

05-02-2010, 11:52 PM	#1
Kerouac Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 68	Tories may revive minimum pot sentences! OTTAWA - The Tories are poised to revive a bill that would impose mandatory-minimum sentences on people convicted of growing small numbers of pot plants. The Conservative government will re-introduce its drug bill this week in the Senate, as part of its continued re-tabling of tough-on-crime legislation that died when the last Parliament was prorogued. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson dropped broad hints Sunday that the new legislation would revive a controversial provision — a mandatory six-month sentence for people convicted of growing as few as five pot plants. The Senate legal and constitutional affairs committee altered the Conservative bill in December raising the minimum-sentence provision to convictions for 200 plants, while preserving a judge's discretion for lesser transgressions. At the time, Nicholson criticized the Senate and the Liberals for the changes, but the legislative debate ended when Prime Minister Stephen Harper was able to prorogue Parliament. The prime minister stacked the Senate with additional Conservatives to give them a majority in the upper house over the Liberals. Nicholson said with the Conservatives now in control of the Senate, he expects to get the drug bill passed quickly, as he originally intended it. "All I'll say is I wasn't impressed by the amendments made in the Senate and again we will be introducing it into the Senate. The bill that we will introduce I'm confident will have a much better chance of passing," Nicholson told The Canadian Press in an interview Sunday. "They watered down some of the provisions with respect to the penalties. They wanted a separate aboriginal system. And again we want the bill to apply to everybody. And the penalties we were comfortable with." Nicholson wouldn't give specific details, except to say that, "there will be mandatory-sentencing provisions in the bill." The December amendments also gave aboriginal convicts an exemption from the minimum-sentence provisions. The Senate said it wanted to target kingpins and other major players in the drug trade, while giving judges more leeway in dealing with lesser offences. Many analysts have warned that the Conservatives' tough-on-crime agenda would swell Canadian prisons, and create soaring new costs. This past week, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said the federal price tag for legislation that would end two-for-one credit for time served in pre-custody would be at least $2 billion over five years. That was up from his earlier estimate of $90 million over two years. Toews only gave that estimate after The Canadian Press reported that the cost could be as high as $10 billion over five years for federal and provincial governments. Nicholson refused to be drawn into any discussion about the potential costs associated with the drug bill. "What's the cost to victims when violent individuals are out on the street that shouldn't be?" the justice minister asked Sunday. "It does cost money to incarcerate people and I believe that Canadians have been willing to pay those costs up to this point and they'll continue to do so. If we don't, then Canadians will be further victimized. That's what victims groups tell me all the time." The Vancouver police department said it was "disturbed" by the amendments made by Liberal senators, saying they would lead to a proliferation of grow-ops with less than 200 plants. But groups such as the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health told the Senate committee last fall that mandatory-minimum sentences are a bad idea, saying drug dependency is a health issue, not a criminal justice matter. The group told the committee that mandatory minimums have led to "ballooning" prison populations in the United States, and that several states were now focusing more on drug treatment programs. The Conservatives have been critical of the Senate in the past for tinkering with legislation that was passed by the House of Commons. "The bill will continue to focus on drug dealers and organized crime and that was the focus of the bill that I had in the Senate for over six months. This bill will be consistent with that," Nicholson said Sunday. "It sends out the right message that if you get involved with drug dealing there's going to be serious consequences. It's consistent with what I've been told by law-enforcement agencies and my international counterparts that the people involved in dealing drugs are part of organized crime." Nicholson said the government also planned this week to reintroduce its auto-theft bill in the Senate and would table a white-collar crime bill in the Commons. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/1...tories_justice
	Quote

05-03-2010, 11:18 PM	#10
Reverend Mojo Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 326	The re-introduction of bill C15 into the Senate is not a MAY. It's a done deal to pass now that the Conservatives loaded the Senate with Conservative members. People are wondering where the money is going to come from. Finally! Canadian voters are so uniformed and sheep like :( __________________ Pink Floyd - Sheep : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5mJQGMqJvw Have you heard the news? The dogs are dead! You better stay home And do as you're told. Get out of the road if you want to grow old.
	Quote

05-02-2010, 11:58 PM	#2
KharmaGirl ~Resident Puck Bunny~ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 5,574	Guess ol Stephen didn't like it when in Ottawa last week the Cheif of Police said he supports decrim and tries not to arrest people.
	Quote

05-03-2010, 12:04 AM	#3
apartmentblower Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 577	we are all fucked. the public is just too dumb to NOT let this bill get passed again. its just a matter of time
	Quote

05-03-2010, 12:10 AM	#5
KharmaGirl ~Resident Puck Bunny~ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 5,574	The public....not really dumb, that's a broad generalization but there are alot of baby boomers who still believe all drugs are bad and who have been lifelong Conservatives. Kinda hard to change someones mind after 50 years, but I keep hoping more young people will vote. Just not for the Conservatives
	Quote

05-03-2010, 12:31 AM	#6
Kerouac Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 68	200 to 5! That's a drop eh? Scary times in Canada...fuck things are going ass backwards here.
	Quote

05-03-2010, 02:10 PM	#7
Dr. Buddington Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: The Stoniest of Plains Posts: 509	Well, the real reason why this bill is being reintroduced, and will unfortunately pass, is that it goes hand in hand with the intentions of the government to bring in a US style privately owned prison system. It is truly unfortunate, but not much can be done to prevent it.
	Quote

05-03-2010, 02:27 PM	#8
Kalicokitty The cat that loves cannabis Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,340	"It does cost money to incarcerate people and I believe that Canadians have been willing to pay those costs up to this point and they'll continue to do so. If we don't, then Canadians will be further victimized. That's what victims groups tell me all the time." Further victimized???? Come on, show me these "groups" that have been so "victimized" by growers, bullshit. Using victims of other crimes to argue for manditory jail time for non voilent, small time growers that hurt no one is a joke.
	Quote

05-03-2010, 03:32 PM	#9
Kerouac Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 68	I agree , this will drive the price up per gram causing more people to do bad things.They don't fucking have a clue do they!
	Quote