EDMONTON – Justice Minister Jonathan Denis is calling for an apology from the Official Opposition, after the Wildrose party issued mock “free crime” coupons Thursday morning.
The coupons are in response to changes the province is making to the justice system. In last week’s budget the province announced it will be phasing out the electronic monitoring program, and those who commit small crimes will no longer be prosecuted, using rehabilitation programs for them instead.
The coupons depict Premier Alison Redford with a smiling Denis, a bar code and instructions which entitle the holder to “one free minor crime.”
“It’s a lighthearted way of dealing with a very serious issue and if the Justice Minister has a problem with it and his policy, he should just change it,” said Wildrose Justice Critic Shane Saskiw.
The “lighthearted” approach caused quite a stir during Question Period Thursday afternoon.
Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith spoke about what she calls the province’s soft-on-crime, “lovey-dovey approach to law breakers.”
The statement was followed by a heated response from Denis, who said Smith’s party is not as tough-on-crime as it claims.
“Her party has talked about less enforcement on Highway 63. She called for Sheriffs to stop enforcing distracted driving laws. She voted against harsher penalties for impaired drivers and Mr. Speaker, this leader herself has called upon city council to set up a red light district. Which way is up, Mr. Speaker?”
The comments prompted Speaker Gene Zwozdesky to interfere.
“Let us remember decorum, let us remember civility, let us remember propriety,” he said.
NDP Justice Critic Rachel Notley believes both parties are taking the wrong approach.
“I think this is simplistic on the part of the Wildrose and that the government’s response is also simplistic.”
Denis maintains the changes will give prosecutors the authority, without political interference, to choose how they prosecute offenders. Denis calls the coupons childish and is demanding an apology.
“I think that whoever did them needs to apologize and I’ll accept their apology,” Denis said. “The message is patently false, and Mr. Saskiw, as a former criminal defense lawyer, should know that it’s improper to send out information that is untrue and I think that he should apologize.”
With files from Vassy Kapelos.
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