Liberals Fear Drug Traffickers Won’t Plead Guilty

October 19, 2005

If we needed any further proof that the federal Liberals have twisted priorities, it came this week during debate on my private member’s bill that would help keep drugs away from schools.

Bill C-248 would impose mandatory sentences of one year or more for the first offence and two years or more for a subsequent offense for those convicted of drug trafficking within 500 metres of an elementary or high school.

Conservative, New Democrat and Bloc Quebecois MPs indicated they support advancing my bill to the Standing Committee on Justice for further study.

However, the federal Liberal Government said it doesn’t like my legislation. Why?

Well, MP Robert Thibault, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health expressed concern on the government’s behalf that adult drug traffickers caught peddling drugs near a school may not plead guilty if they know they’ll face jail time.

Well heaven forbid Liberals and drug traffickers are forced to endure the hassle of a criminal trial!

Our criminal justice system does not exist to cater to the convenience of the government or drug dealers. It exists to protect the best interests of our society and to punish and deter those who threaten our safety and security. The Paul Martin Liberals are, once again, more concerned about protecting criminals than protecting our children.

Bill C-248 is specifically designed to target those adults responsible for getting drugs into our schools.

According to 1996-97 statistics, just 64 percent of drug traffickers served any jail time. And the median sentence was just four months! The rest got off lucky with either probation or a fine!

Mandatory prison time alone will not keep drugs out of schools, but it’s the type of legal backing from the federal government that teachers and community workers need to complement ongoing drug education and awareness programs.

Recent studies indicate that as many as 40 percent of students have used drugs in the previous year. The use of cocaine, which had declined throughout the eighties is on the rise once again. And nine percent of Canadians aged 12-17 use cannabis daily.

If kids really want to buy drugs, they’ll find them somewhere. That doesn’t mean we have to make it easy for them and it certainly doesn’t mean it has to be at school.

Mandatory jail time sends a very clear message about the dangers – and the consequences – of drug-related activities. This is especially important in light of the current debate over the decriminalization of marijuana possession which is sending mixed-messages to teens about so-called “soft drugs”.

The Liberals also oppose Bill C-248 because, according to Mr. Thibault, it doesn’t address drug trafficking in skate parks, arenas and other areas children frequent.

This is typical of the Liberals. They are prepared to do nothing simply because this one particular piece of legislation doesn’t offer a one-stop solution. Why don’t we at least start somewhere? Why don’t we start by jailing drug dealers who prey upon our children while they’re at school?

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