Tories push tougher penalties for drug dealers

Globe and Mail Update

November 20, 2007 at 11:34 AM EST

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson unveiled new legislation Tuesday that would impose mandatory prison sentences for dealing illegal drugs.

“Drug producers and dealers who threaten the safety of our communities must face tougher penalties,” Mr. Nicholson said in a release. “This is why our government is moving to impose mandatory jail time for serious drug offences that involve organized crime, violence or youth.”

The proposed amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) will ensure that certain serious drug offences will result in mandatory prison sentences. Currently there are no minimum penalties under the CDSA. The amendments include:

• A one-year mandatory prison sentence will be imposed for dealing drugs such as marijuana when carried out for organized crime purposes, or when a weapon or violence is involved;

• A two-year mandatory sentence for dealing drugs such as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines to youth, or for dealing those drugs near a school or an area normally frequented by youth;

• A two-year mandatory sentence for running a large marijuana grow operation of at least 500 plants;

• The maximum penalty for cannabis production would increase to 14 years imprisonment from seven;

• Tougher penalties will be introduced for trafficking GHB and date-rape drugs.

“Drugs are dangerous and destructive, yet we see Canadian youth being exposed to and taking drugs at such young ages, and grow-ups and drug labs appearing in our residential areas,” Mr. Nicholson said. “By introducing these changes, our message is clear: If you sell or produce drugs – you'll pay with jail time.”

Tuesday's announcement continues a law-and-order theme for Stephen Harper's Conservative government this week.

On Monday, Mr. Nicholson unveiled two changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, one of which would make it easier to keep young people charged with crimes in custody before their trial if they are deemed a risk to society.

The second would allow judges to consider whether the sentence imposed upon a young offender would sufficiently deter the offender – and others like him or her – from committing the same crime in the future.

The Supreme Court found last year that the act does not allow judges who simply want to deter others from committing crime the latitude to hand down a harsher sanction than would otherwise be called for.

With a report from Gloria Galloway