OTTAWA, June 13, 2008 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the Honourable Stockwell Day, P.C., M.P., Minister of Public Safety joined their G-8 counterparts in Tokyo, Japan in renewing their commitment to work together to fight transnational organized crime and terrorism. The key topics discussed included: counter measures against drug crimes, counter terrorism, the fight against the sexual exploitation of children, identity-related crime and building capacity to create a fair and functioning rule of law.
"Given the close international co-operation fostered at this meeting, I am confident that Canada will be able to make greater progress on issues of longstanding shared concern such as the illegal drug trade and the sexual exploitation of children, including child pornography on the Internet," said Minister Nicholson. "I was also pleased to have an opportunity to discuss the emerging global phenomena of identity-related crime with my G8 counterparts, as it is an issue of significant concern to Canadians.
"The issues discussed with our G8 colleagues are key to our government's commitment to the protection of our citizens," said Minister Day. "International cooperation is ever more important in the global fight against crime and terrorism and we are committed to reinforcing our strong partnership with our allies to address pressing global threats to safety and security."
Ministers Nicholson and Day also shared with their G8 counterparts Canada's progress and achievements aimed at tackling crime. In the past year, Canada has:
- Passed the Tackling Violent Crime Act which cracks down on gun criminals, dangerous offenders, impaired drivers and sexual predators targeting our youth.
- 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 a National Anti-Drug Strategy, including legislation that would provide mandatory jail time for serious drug crimes;
- Introduced legislation to address property theft, including the serious crime of auto theft, often associated with organized crime;
- Introduced legislation to strengthen the Youth Criminal Justice Act and announced a review of this Act in 2008;
- Introduced legislation to protect Canadians against identity theft;
- Invested in crime prevention community projects across Canada that targets those most at-risk;
- Increased our capacity in emergency management;
- Enhanced security at the border by arming our border officers and hiring 400 new officers;
- Added more police in our streets; and
- Made the federal government's largest investment ever to a national charitable organization, which helps to protect children from online sexual predators.
During this meeting, Ministers Nicholson and Day had the opportunity to hear from experts who provided information on issues regarding identity-related crime and recent global trends concerning drug issues in G8 states.
For more information on the G8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial meeting, including a link to the Ministers' concluding declaration, please visit: G8 Justice and Home Affairs
Information:
Darren Eke
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Rob Nicholson
(613) 992-4621
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863
Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
(613) 957- 4207
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
