Conservatives denounce Liberal plan to weaken crime laws; raise taxes and run permanent deficits

Today, Julian Fantino, Conservative candidate for Vaughan-Woodbridge, responded to Justin Trudeau’s pledge to repeal mandatory prison sentences for serious offences.

“As a former police leader with over four decades of experience, I am appalled that Justin Trudeau believes that the rights of violent criminals and criminals that re-offend should come before the rights of victims,” said Fantino. “Those who sexually abuse or provide sexually explicit material to children, who sell drugs to children, who operate speed labs or commit drive-by shootings, should be held accountable and face certain jail time. By repealing mandatory prison sentences for these types of offences may mean less or even no jail time for these deplorable and violent criminals. Canadians want violent, recidivist criminals off our streets and behind bars, where they belong.”

Fantino also highlighted the Conservative Government’s record on getting tough on crime through the introduction and implementation of over 60 substantive pieces of legislation keeping criminals behind bars, protecting children from predators, making the justice system work for victims, and cracking down on guns, gangs and drugs.

“I am proud that I have been able to use my law enforcement experience to help shape our justice policies to keep our children, seniors and communities safe. Our Conservative party will go even further to protect Canadians if re-elected, and will make Life Means Life legislation our justice priority. This will mean that those who commit the most heinous crimes will stay behind bars for life. I have long advocated for this and am pleased that our Conservative party is holding criminals accountable while protecting the rights of victims.

The evidence shows that mandatory prison sentences work at keeping criminals in prison longer, and hence at keeping our streets and communities safer.”

The Conservative party also recently  announced that a re-elected Conservative government will double the funding for Child Advocacy Centres and Child and Youth Advocacy Centres, fund research on the “invisible” economic and social damage inflicted on victims of crime, and pass the Dangerous and Impaired Driving Act, which will increase penalties for repeat offenders, simplify establishing blood alcohol concentration, and speed up impaired driving related court cases.

In addition, Conservative candidate Tony Clement drew attention to the Liberal Party’s costing document yesterday, in which Justin promised to raise taxes by an additional $6.5 billion.

“While Conservatives are cutting your taxes, increasing benefits to middle class families and seniors and protecting our economy, the Liberal’s yesterday unveiled their plan that would raise your taxes, plunge Canada back into permanent deficits and destabilize our fragile economy”, said Clement.

Clement also drew attention to Justin’s comments yesterday in a television interview, in which he was asked to justify running deficits….

This is what Justin said:  “Deficits are a way of measuring the kind of growth and the kind of success that a government is actually able to create.”

“Justin believes that spending beyond your means, and hiking taxes on middle class seniors and families, grows the economy”, said Clement.