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441-00523 (Justice)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

Whereas:

  • Bill C-5 eliminates a number of mandatory minimum jail sentences for criminals who commit: robbery with a firearm, weapons trafficking, discharging firearm, possessing of a loaded firearm, and extortion with a firearm;
  • It also eliminates mandatory minimums in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that target drug dealers; and
  • The bill allows for greater use of conditional sentence orders, such as house arrest (instead of jail time), for a number of offences, including prison breach, criminal harassment, sexual assault, kidnapping, and trafficking in persons.

We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to immediately withdraw or repeal Bill C-5, and stop favouring the criminals at the expense of law-abiding Canadians.

Response by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Parliamentary Secretary Gary Anandasangaree

Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, seeks to contribute to a fairer and more effective criminal justice system without compromising public safety.

Systemic discrimination and racism are a reality for too many in Canada’s criminal justice system. WithBill C- 5, our Government is moving away from rigid one-size-fits-all policies that have not made our communities safer, but have instead filled up our prisons with too many lower-risk and first-time offenders - disproportionately Indigenous peoples and members of Black and racialized communities.

These changes are one step closer to rooting out systemic racism and reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous people, Black peoples, and members of marginalized communities in our criminal justice system.

Our Government looks forward to working with the Senate in its consideration of Bill C-5 and the Bill receiving Royal Assent.

Presented to the House of Commons
Larry Brock (Brantford—Brant)
June 6, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00523)
Government response tabled
September 20, 2022
Photo - Larry Brock
Brantford—Brant
Conservative Caucus
Ontario

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.