Keep Canada Safe - Stop Bill C-10

PETITION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

in reference to

BILL C-10

The Safe Streets and Communities Act

As the Canadian Bar Association and others have observed, Bill C-10 will, despite its title, make Canadian streets less safe than they currently are, at an unbearable cost to all levels of government, and ultimately, Canadian taxpayers. 

The proposed legislation will paralyze courts and the criminal justice system, require new ‘super-prisons’, mandate incarceration for minor, non-violent offences, lead to the cruel and unusual punishment of inmates, and set young Canadians with considerable potential on the path to becoming career criminals. 

This ill-conceived approach has been tried in U.S. jurisdictions such as Texas and California, with abysmal results.  It is proven to be ineffective and unsustainable.  Legislators in the U.S. have therefore urged the Canadian government not to repeat their costly mistakes, but have been ignored.

THEREFORE We, the undersigned, being concerned citizens, call upon all Members of the Senate to fulfill their role as members of the Chamber of “sober, second thought” in reviewing Bill C-10. 

We believe that the proposed legislation, which has been denied proper consideration and debate in the House of Commons will:

1.      create unreasonable and unsustainable expense for all levels of government and, ultimately, Canadian taxpayers at a time when fiscal restraint is critical to our economy;

2.      do nothing to prevent or reduce the incidence of crime in Canada and instead increase crime, particularly among Canadian youth;

3.      lead to cruel and unusual punishment as well as the violation of other fundamental rights and freedoms; and

4.      blindly emphasize retribution above all else, making us all less safe, less secure, and ultimately, less Canadian.

TO THAT END, we urge all Senators to review and consider the nine statutes being amended on their individual merits, to reject Bill C-10 in its current form, and to insist that any new crime legislation reflect decades of empirical evidence as to effective means by which we may prevent or reduce crime in Canada.