Eliminating "Rubber Stamp" Pardons for Serious Crimes
@scimantweets Long hours! how does that compare to the work force in general? I know I put in those kind of hours as well, & many others.
2 hours ago
Today, the Conservative Government of Canada announced legislation to replace the current pardon system and eliminate "rubber stamp" pardons for serious crimes. Prime Minister Harper stated that: "Pardons (are) not a right; some crimes should never be pardoned."
Our party and government believe the system should not put the rights of criminals ahead of the rights of victims and law-abiding citizens. Under the current system "pardons" are granted almost automatically.
The current pardons system implies that what the offender did is somehow okay, or is forgiven, or that the harm done has somehow disappeared. I disagree, and so does our party. This government is on the side of victims.
In the new system, anyone convicted of a sex offence against a child would be permanently ineligible. Those convicted of more than three indictable offences would also be permanently ineligible.
In all other cases, the legislation would increase the period of ineligibility for a record suspension - to five years for summary conviction offences, and to ten years for indictable offences.
Eliminating pardons for serious crimes will help protect our children and our communities, and it will better reflect Canadians' natural sense of justice.
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