Quebec Justice minister challenges senator over anti-crime bill

Quebec Justice minister challenges senator over anti-crime bill

"QUEBEC — Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier issued a challenge Wednesday to Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, after the Conservative senator said Quebec is “soft on crime,” to come up with scientific evidence that Ottawa’s proposal for stiffer sentences will work better.

“Give us one document,” Fournier told reporters, calling Boisvenu’s position “demagogic.”

“I can give you until Friday,” the minister added.

“If they are right, they will not be afraid to have a debate with scientific studies in the name of victims in Quebec and across Canada.”

Fournier is incensed that the Harper government is ignoring his advice and pushing ahead with C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, an omnibus bill calling for mandatory and longer sentences, with sweeping amendments to the Criminal Code and related laws.

“Stop the C-10 express and give us time to do things properly,” Fournier told reporters.

Boisvenu said at an Ottawa news conference that Fournier’s assessment of C-10 is wrong.

Boisvenu’s daughter Julie was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 2002 by a 27-year-old man out of prison on parole after being convicted of a sexual offence.

The Quebec minister objects that changes in C-10 to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, to treat some young offenders as adults, would undo Quebec’s practice of counselling and rehabilitating minors who commit crimes so they do not become repeat offenders.

Boisvenu said only three per cent of young offenders would be effected by C-10, those committing violent crimes, such as murder or aggravated sexual assault."


Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Quebec+Justice+minister+challenges+senator+over+anti+crime+bill/5722274/story.html#ixzz1dyqf1Tzj