OTTAWA, January 29, 2010 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, today celebrated the appointment of five new members of the Senate of Canada. They were joined by two of the five: Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu and Senator Bob Runciman.
"The opposition has obstructed that agenda in the Senate, most notably by gutting Bill C-15 – a bill proposing mandatory jail time for serious drug offences, and a key part of the government's efforts to fight organized crime."
"These five new Senators support all our measures," said Minister Paradis. "And today, we ask the opposition parties to listen to the victims of crime and to support our measures, too."
"By appointing me as a Senator, Prime Minister Harper is also sending a clear signal to Canadians and Quebecers: our Government stands up for the rights of victims, not the rights of criminals," said Senator Boisvenu. "The victims of unscrupulous white collar criminals, violent and repeat offenders and sexual offenders, can count on us to defend them."
"I am deeply honoured that the Prime Minister has asked me to join his caucus as a Senator," said Senator Runciman. "For all my public career, I've been devoted to the principle that every individual and family has the right to live, work and play free from the threat of violent crime, and that the victims of crime deserve justice."
