The following is a message from SDSG Memeber of Parlimemnt Guy Lauzon:

I have good news for the constituents of Stormont, Dundas & South Glengarry. After passing more than thirty measures to fight crime and put victims first, crime in Canada is decreasing. Despite this, there were still approximately two million crimes reported in Canada in 2011, and as far as I am concerned, that’s two million too many. Any victim of a crime will tell you the consequences of crime are real, long lasting, and very damaging. That’s why our Government is taking further action by cracking down on criminals, protecting victims of crime, and ensuring our justice system is efficient and effective.

We are cracking down on criminals themselves by holding them accountable for their actions. To that end, we strengthened penalties for a number of offences including child sexual exploitation, drug trafficking, street racing and white collar crime. We also eliminated house arrest as a sentencing option for serious and violent crimes.

I have always believed the rights of victims should be ahead of the rights of criminals. That is why I am proud to report that our Government has established an ombudsman to give victims a voice in the justice and correctional system. Further, we provided funded services for victims of crime, and ensured victims are now allowed to address parole hearings. Going forward, we plan to implement a Victim’s Bill of Rights and make it easier for victims to obtain restitution for their losses.

We are also taking action to make improvements to our justice system. We will do this by making the bail and extradition systems more efficient and effective, ensuring they do what they are supposed to. Victims will no longer be put through years of apprehension because of delays in court proceedings. Our Government is committed to making our justice system swift and sure.

During the past three elections Canadians made it clear, they want our justice system to put victims’ rights ahead of the rights of criminals. Our Government remains committed to doing just that.