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The Senate resumed meeting in Fall 2009 with several of the Conservatives' law and order bills before it. Bill C-15 is being heard by the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs at the Senate level. Hearings began October 8th, with seven meetings being held since then discussing C15. Witnesses from Canada and the United States have provided evidence to the committee, and like the Parliamentary committee, many witnesses have warned of the negative implications of this bill. In place of Bill C-15 we urge sensible drug policy which acknowledges the evidence in front of it. We, like many of the witnesses, are calling for the end of drug prohibition in Canada and the implementation of policies that work for Canadians in addressing the problems of substances and substance use in our country.
For info on Bill C-15's status at the Senate click here
For transcripts from Committee hearings click here
Contact your Senator and tell them to vote against Bill C-15!
Quotes from witnesses
Marc Maurer, The Sentancing Project:
"Using incarceration and mandatory sentencing has not brought us much in the way of results, and it has come at great financial cost and human cost as well."
Eric Sterling, Criminal Justice Policy Foundation:
"Briefly, our perception has been that mandatory minimums have led to injustice, and they have been ineffective. We have not focused on the high-level traffickers but on the low-level traffickers. Drug traffickers today are more efficient than they were 25 years ago. They deliver a purer product at less cost to them per gram. In effect, drug enforcement has picked off the unlucky or the not particularly smart drug traffickers, while the more aggressive, more violent, more intelligent traffickers have thrived; so we have not succeeded in those terms."
Sharon Dolovich, Professor at Georgetown Law, as an individual:
"The American experience teaches that it is much easier to get political traction for tough-on-crime measures such as mandatory sentencing than it is to retreat from those policies once their harmful effects have become obvious. Sentencing policy tends to be created in the abstract, against some mythical evil criminal; and it is easy to be against such people. However, not all criminal offenders are evil."
Jamie Shaffe, Canadian Association of Crown Counsel:
"By far the greatest impact, from the perspective of all the associations across the country, would be the impact on plea negotiations and trial rate. Bill C-15 would create new minimum jail terms for persons charged under the CDSA. All jurisdictions are of the view that these mandatory minimum sentences will reduce guilty pleas and increase the rate at which matters go to trial on the charges affected by Bill C-15."
Phil Downes, Canadian Council o f Criminal Defence Lawyers:
"In short, we say, in closing, that there is no evidence that this legislation will result in decreased drug crime or in enhanced public safety. However, there is a great deal of evidence that it will continue to marginalize and prejudice those who are already marginalized by the criminal justice system."
Contact your Senator and tell them to vote against Bill C-15! Write them an email, give them a call, send them a fax, contact your senator! Tell them that Canadians do not want to impose mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes. Tell them that Canadians support diverse forms of treatment that are not based in the criminal justice system. Tell them drug policy is a health policy. Tell them that you support getting smart on crime!
Contact information for Canadian Senators
http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/IsenAssist.asp?Language=E&sortord=N
Members of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Angus, W. David C - (Alma - Quebec)
Baker, George Lib. - (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Banks, Tommy Lib. - (Alberta)
Campbell, Larry W. Lib. - (British Columbia)
Carignan, Claude C - (Mille Isles - Quebec)
Fraser, Joan Lib. - (De Lorimier - Quebec)
Joyal, Serge Lib. - (Kennebec - Quebec)
Milne, Lorna Lib. - (Peel County - Ontario)
Nolin, Pierre Claude C - (De Salaberry - Quebec)
Rivest, Jean-Claude Ind. - (Stadacona - Quebec)
Wallace, John D. C - (New Brunswick)
Watt, Charlie Lib. - (Inkerman - Quebec)
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