Mr. Chairman, also on a related line, and I think our colleague Ms. Lee spoke to it as well, is the very large question across Canada of growing crime related to substance abuse. We were, of course, all witness to a horrible event in Alberta a few days ago, so there is quite a level of sensitivity about this. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice for Canada, Anne McLellan, went into what I found a very interesting and appropriate kind of discussion over the weekend to urge, I guess in a ministerial way, our justice community to take a tougher stand when convicting people of drug-related offences, and reflecting as much as they can, the protocols that exist between the political and judicial arms of our government, Mr. Chairman, but also trying to send a message that society has, I think, a greater tolerance now for a tougher stand on this and certainly a lower tolerance for the explosive growth in what is seen to be the availability, the ease, and the consistency of illegal substances. My question here, Mr. Chairman, is to what extent can Mr. Dent, as our Minister of Justice, consider sending that kind of a signal to the judiciary? Because it is certainly one that I feel is very much warranted. Thank you.
Bill Braden on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 7th, 2005. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 6th, 2005
Page 1822
See context to find out what was said next.