Liberal MP and former justice minister Irwin Cotler had a question for the government in April about one of their omnibus crime bills, the Safe Streets and Communities Act.
The legislation, known as Bill C-10, passed in March 2012 and changed nine laws. It created new offences for child sex crimes, amended immigration law and youth crime law, and enacted mandatory minimum sentences for terrorism charges and certain drug offences, including production and possession of marijuana.
Most of the laws came into force late last year. The bill was criticized by the opposition at the time due to its scope, the time limit to debate it and because the government rejected amendments. Some experts said the laws were unnecessary, could overcrowd prisons and reduce judicial discretion. In fact, the Quebec bar (Barreau du Quebec) has filed an application finding the mandatory minimums unconstitutional.
Cotler’s was a multi-pronged question about the legislation – in fact, it was so long it took up about half the page.
And among them, Cotler had a very simple, and very literal request.
Name the safe streets and communities.
“Which specific communities, if any, have been made safer by the bill,” reads the question.
“Broken down by province and territory, which specific streets, if any, have been made safer by the bill; in ways have the streets…been made safer; what evidence exists to demonstrate that the streets…have been made safer.”
The response that specific element of Cotler’s question, prepared by Justice Minister Rob Nicholson’s office and recently released, says only the following:
“The Act’s reforms make communities safer by extending greater protection to the most vulnerable members of society and enhancing the ability of our justice system to hold criminals accountable for their actions.”
No need to key in the Google Maps.
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