April 03, 2009

In February Justice Minister Rob Nicholson introduced two new important pieces of legislation to strengthen laws against organized crime and serious drug offences. More recently, our government has introduced two additional bills as part of our anti-crime agenda

Truth in Sentencing...

Currently “2 for 1” remand sentencing double-counts time spent in jail while waiting for trial and disproportionately reduces prison sentences for some violent offenders. These credits mean that offenders can be released and back on the street in half the time that they should have served.

Our Government has introduced reforms which will cap the amount of credit that individuals convicted of crimes receive for their time in pre-sentencing custody at a one-to-one ratio. This means that persons denied bail because of their past criminal record, or for violating bail, would not be given extra credit for time served in detention before going to trial.

Preventing Identity Theft...

New legislation will create three new offences targeting the early stages of identity-related crime. The offences are:

• Obtaining and possessing identity information with the intent to use the information deceptively, dishonestly or fraudulently in the commission of a crime;
• Trafficking in identity information, an offence that targets those who transfer or sell information to another person with knowledge of or recklessness toward the possible criminal use of the information; and
• Unlawfully possessing or trafficking in government-issued identity documents that contain the information of another person.

Organized crime and modern technology are changing the criminal landscape, making identity theft easier than ever. This legislation will provide police with the tools they need to protect Canadians from identity crime.

Contact us…

Calgary Centre residents requiring assistance may contact my office by mail, phone, fax, e-mail or appointment. Our constituency office contact information is:

Lee Richardson, M.P.
Suite 105, 1410 11th Ave SW
Calgary, AB T3C 0M8

Phone: (403) 244-1880
Fax: (403) 245-3468
E-mail: Richardson.L@parl.gc.ca
Website: www.leerichardson.ca