Our Conservative Government's crime agenda moved one step closer to becoming law. Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, passed third reading in the House of Commons last Wednesday after many, many delays and much political posturing.

PHOTO CREDIT - GuyLauzon.ca

Cornwall - Dec. 12, 2011 - Our Conservative Government's crime agenda moved one step closer to becoming law. Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, passed third reading in the House of Commons last Wednesday after many, many delays and much political posturing.

Our government tried repeatedly over our five years as a minority government to pass various individual parts of the current Omnibus Bill. However our efforts always fell short. With the help of some votes from the Opposition Parties we were often able to get these bills passed at second reading only to have them gutted or changed by these same opposition members at committee stage. Needless to say this frustrated all members of our caucus. A great deal of time and much effort was wasted going through the motions only to have one or both opposition parties withdraw their support in committee or at final reading. We had to accept that because we were a minority government at the time.

Although we now have a majority government, there are still procedural games being played to obstruct the passage of C-10. For example, before this omnibus crime bill could be voted on last Wednesday, we had to vote on 71 frivolous amendments put forth by the opposition parties. The opposition knew we would win all these votes but they use these procedural and delay tactics to waste Parliament's time.

That is one of the reasons Justice Minister Nicholson put all these bills into one Omnibus Bill and this time it will become law once and for all. And it's about time! For too long child molesters, drug traffickers and violent criminals have received slaps on the wrist for their crimes. This will soon stop.

Enough is enough! Soon we will have a law that puts the right of victims ahead of the rights of criminals.

Guy Lauzon
Member of Parliament
Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry