Report Slams Conservative “Tough On Crime” Agenda

A study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says the Tories are “lazy on crime” and “tough on taxpayers.”

One third of the 54 bills introduced by the Conservatives in this session of Parliament are related to crime, and include plans to build 13 new prisons to accommodate more prisoners and harsher sentences. A new report by the left-of-centre think tank says these policies ignore statistics asserting that violent crime, drug-related crime, and sexual assaults in Canada are all declining. The report also warns that harsher prison conditions, longer sentences, and more crowded prisons will increase the chance that criminals will reoffend. The parliamentary budget officer says it will cost $5 billion to implement key “tough on crime” legislation, but Public Safety Minister Vic Toews says the figure is likely lower.