For immediate release
July 3, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY
TOUGHER LAWS TO CRACK DOWN ON IMPAIRED DRIVERS AND DANGEROUS OFFENDERS COME INTO FORCE ON JULY 2nd

OTTAWA – July 3, 2008 – Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, announced that new laws took effect on July 2, 2008 that will better protect Canadians from people who commit serious and violent crimes.

The new laws are part of the federal government’s Tackling Violent Crime Act, and amend Canada’s Criminal Code to ensure:

oThere are stronger penalties for impaired driving, and new ways to detect and investigate drug-impaired driving; and
oThere is more effective sentencing and monitoring to prevent dangerous, high-risk offenders from offending again.

“With this legislation, our Government is taking action to protect the lives of innocent people from those who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol.” said MP Brown, “This is another example of our government getting things done for families and taxpayers by working to keep our streets safe.”

MP Brown is a former board member of MADD Barrie/Simcoe Chapter and was a member of the Government Standing Committee on Justice for 2006/2007.

On May 1, 2008, three other laws came into effect as part of the government’s Tackling Violent Crime Act that better protect Canadians against those who commit serious and violent crimes:

•Raising the age of protection from 14 years to 16 years;
•Providing tougher sentences for serious gun crimes; and
•Ensuring that bail provisions better protect the public from gun violence.

The Government of Canada has been working since 2006 to introduce new measures that will tackle violent crime and make Canadian communities safer.  We have:
•Passed legislation to increase penalties for those convicted of street racing;
•Passed legislation to end conditional sentences (house arrest) for serious personal injury and violent offences, including sexual assault;
•Introduced legislation to tackle property theft, including the serious crime of auto theft;
•Introduced a National Anti-Drug Strategy, including legislation that would provide mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes;
•Introduced legislation to strengthen the Youth Criminal Justice Act; and commenced a comprehensive review of this Act in 2008;
•Introduced legislation to protect Canadians against identity theft; and
•Invested in crime prevention community projects across Canada that target youth.

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For an online version of the Tackling Violent Crime Act (Bill C-2) visit www.parl.gc.ca.

For more information:
Alison Eadie
705-726-5959