Canadians endorse Federal Government’s anti-crime proposals
Many elements of the federal government’s proposed legislation on crime find a high level of public support across the entire country, a new Angus Reid Strategies poll has found.
The online survey of a representative national sample of 1,002 Canadians also shows that a majority of respondents favour the concept of mandatory minimum sentences, while a much lower proportion would continue to allow judges to assess the specific merits of each case.
The “Faint-Hope” Clause
The “faint-hope” clause allows people convicted of murder to apply for early release after 15 years in prison. The federal government has proposed scrapping the “faint hope” clause, meaning that people convicted of murder would not be eligible to apply for early release. Almost three-in-four respondents (72%) agree with the government’s move to scrap the “faint-hope” clause, while 23 per cent are opposed. British Columbia (82%) had the highest level of support on this particular question.
The National Sex Offender Registry
Canada has a National Sex Offender Registry, which was established to enhance public protection by helping police identify possible suspects known to be near the offence site. At this time, a convicted sex offender is registered at the discretion of a judge. The federal government has proposed registering all sex offenders, whether a judge believes they should be registered or not. Four-in-five Canadians (82%) agree with this idea, while 14 per cent are opposed. Respondents in Alberta (90%) are clearly supportive of the government’s plans.
Mandatory Jail Terms for Drug Crimes
Respondents to this survey were provided with some of the provisions of Bill C-15, which was passed by the House of Commons and must be ratified by the Senate before becoming law. Three-in-five respondents (63%) agree with enacting a mandatory six-month jail term for anyone growing from five to 200 marijuana plants, with the purpose of trafficking.
Support for two other marijuana-related provisions is higher, with 73 per cent agreeing to a mandatory one-year jail term for anyone growing from 201 to 500 marijuana plants, with the purpose of trafficking, and 75 per cent consenting to a mandatory two-year jail term for anyone growing more than 500 marijuana plants, with the purpose of trafficking.
Nine-in-ten Canadians (91%) support a regulation that calls for a mandatory two-year jail term for anyone selling or sharing Schedule I substances (such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine) on or near school grounds.
Non-Personal Injury Crimes
Another one of the federal government’s proposals seeks to end conditional sentences for non-personal injury crimes, such as theft over $5,000, robbery, arson, home invasion, kidnapping and impaired driving causing bodily harm. At this time, people convicted of these crimes can serve a sentence of less than two years under house arrest. If the bill passes, people convicted of these crimes would have to serve their time in prison. Two-thirds of respondents (68%) support the proposed course of action—including 80 per cent in British Columbia and 81 per cent in Alberta—while 25 per cent disagree.
Mandatory Minimum Sentences
In all, Canadians appear satisfied with the concept of mandatory minimum sentences. Three-in-five (61%) think this idea is good because it establishes specific penalties that cannot be changed. Conversely, 22 per cent of respondents call mandatory minimum sentences a bad idea, because they take away the discretion of judges to assess the specific merits of each case.
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