OTTAWA, June 25, 2012 –The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced that four components of the Safe Streets and Communities Act will come into force over the next five months.
“Our Government received a strong mandate from Canadians to keep our streets and communities safe. We promised to pass the measures contained in our Safe Streets and Communities Act within the first 100 sitting days of Parliament and we have delivered,” said Minister Nicholson. “Our Government is committed to ensuring criminals are held fully accountable for their actions and that the safety and security of law-abiding Canadians comes first in Canada’s justice system. We will continue to fight crime and protect Canadians so that our communities are safe places for people to live, raise their families and do business.”
The four components of the Safe Streets and Communities Act that will come into force in the coming months are:
- Increasing penalties for sexual offences against children
Coming into Force: August 9, 2012
Amendments to the Criminal Code which increase penalties for sexual offences against children, as well as create two new offences aimed at conduct that could facilitate or enable the commission of a sexual offence against a child.
- Protecting Canadians from violent, repeat young offenders
Coming into Force: October 23, 2012
Amendments to the Youth Criminal Justice Act which better protect Canadians from violent and repeat young offenders and make the protection of society a paramount consideration in the management of young offenders by the justice system.
- Targeting serious drug crimes
Coming into Force: November 6, 2012
Amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act which target organized crime by imposing tougher sentences for the production and possession of illicit drugs for the purposes of trafficking.
- Eliminating house arrest for serious and violent crimes
Coming into Force: November 20, 2012
Amendments to the Criminal Code which eliminate the use of so-called “house arrest”, or conditional sentences, for serious and violent crimes.
The Safe Streets and Communities Act received Royal Assent on March 13, 2012.
For an online version of the Safe Streets and Communities Act, visit www.parl.gc.ca.
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Ref.:
- Julie Di Mambro
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621
- Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207
