CANADA'S TWO CONSERVATIVE PARTIES:

Liberals to support Tory bill on crime (Susan Delacourt, Jun 08, 2009 , Toronto Star)

Liberal MPs are set to give the Conservative government help tonight in passing tough drug-crime legislation, despite the risk of a backlash at the party grassroots.

Under the bill, soon to be law, people convicted of serious drug crimes will automatically face prison terms of six months or longer. The legislation is particularly tough on any offender who traffics drugs or gets young people involved in drug crimes.

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has said the tougher sentences are aimed at "serious drug traffickers, the people who are basically out to destroy our society."

Critics argue the proposed law does nothing to rehabilitate drug users and it will simply mean more crowding in prisons.

Crowding the jails is how you reduce crime.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 8, 2009 6:25 AM