Minority governments offer the public tumultuous affairs in question periods and special committees, during budgets and other important matters, and this federal government in Canada at present, a minority with the Conservatives at the helm, is rising in rancor almost by the hour.
They did manage, however, to put the seasonal affective disorder aside long enough to pass the crime law, at the end of February 2008, and with the differences put aside for that long Hon. Rob Nicholson's omnibus crime bill received Royal Assent.
Hon. Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice, said, "Over the past two years, our Government has been working tirelessly to make these important changes to Canada's criminal justice system. With the passage of this bill today, we can say good-bye to the days of soft, lenient penalties for dangerous criminals," on Feb 27 08.
The justice portfolio has belonged to Nicholson for the life of this parliament and he intends the new law to strengthen the Criminal Code with tougher mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes, and tougher bail provisions to keep those alleged to have committed violent offenses behind bars.
Those accused of serious gun crimes face tougher conditions of bail, putting a stronger emphasis on the accused being able to display bond-worthiness, and a credible set of reasons for why they should be allowed out of jail while awaiting trial.
It was also controversial because of certain provisions related to what the government called, "Better protection for youth from adult sexual predators," because the new crime law increases the age of protection for sexual activity from 14 years to 16 years.
The age of consent provisions allow for circumstances related to the human condition and youth interactivity, and is delegated to prevent the kinds of interactions witnessed in Medicine Hat, as related to Jeremy Steinke and his interactions with a 12 year old girl that led to her own conviction for murdering a family of three; or interactions arising from internet accessibility to youth.
The other important designation in the legislation was to gain more effective sentencing of dangerous offenders, those who are at high-risk to reoffend will be better monitored across the country, and this was designed to work toward prevention.
The government is also concerned about the varieties of impairment the police encounter. The justice law called for new ways to detect and investigate drug-impaired driving and mandated stronger penalties for impaired driving.
The minister said, "This bill toughens sentencing and bail for those who commit serious gun crimes, ensures more dangerous offenders are kept behind bars, better protects children from sexual predators, and gives police more tools to help them crack down on those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs."
The government will make the majority of these reforms in force by summer. This permits Canadians in the public, police, prosecutors, defense counsel and judges, "sufficient time to familiarize themselves with these important changes to Canada's criminal law."
Senator Marjory LeBreton said, "I was pleased to have the opportunity as a Senator to give this legislation the attention and consideration it deserved," and she, the Leader of the Government in the Senate, said, "Now that this legislation has received Royal Assent, it will go a long way to strengthening the security of our communities. "
The crime bill narrowly passed a Liberal-dominated Senate and Canadians watched the minority government dance around another election showdown on the issue. In fact it only passed three days before a deadline imposed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
A few days earlier Liberal Opposition MPs walked out of the vote in protest, while the ruling Conservatives taunted them with the old song, "Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye."
More measures relating to the criminal code in Canada are in the legislative works, including measures to tackle violent crime, strengthen the Youth Criminal Justice Act; and notice of a comprehensive review of this Act in 2008.
The Conservatives have also introduced legislation to protect Canadians against identity theft, and they have, "Invested in crime prevention community projects across Canada that target youth."
