We are in a VERY important election. In 2012 Stephen Harper breached the charter rights of 2 million Canadians...on purpose. He knew it would be struck down by the courts, but did it anyways. Why is this important today?
Pierre Poilievre (ill refer to him as PP to keep this shorter) proposed today a new approach to crime.
-3 strikes you are out
-denied bail arbitrarily
-10 year mandatory sentences
This is a RACIST dog whistle. He is talking to white Canadians, and basically saying "I am going to lock up more non white people". This is ALWAYS the message, Trump did the same thing. White people think crime is committed mainly by non white people. (despite evidence to the contrary)
Worse, he KNOWS all of these things are PROTECTED in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. So even if he passed such legislation, and it got past the Senate, the court would strike it down.
But lets look at "3 strikes you are out" which California tried. There was a small decrease in crime initially, but then crime rose at a higher rate. They found that the law REMOVED people who would otherwise after a "normal jail sentence" actually be the people who prevented their sons, brothers, younger members of the community from getting into trouble, which led to THOSE people then following in the SAME footsteps.
It has been shown again and again that HARSHER sentences NEVER lower crime. Countries that take a "rehabilitative approach" to crime ALWAYS have the best system when it comes to REDUCING crime.
I have clients who were some of the worst gang members and leader when they were 17-25. They did jail time and GREW UP. Some of them are now businessmen, dads, and some of them went on to do incredible things to PREVENT others from following them. Some have started organizations to HELP youth.
The people who never learn eventually serve long sentences. They only learn when they are old men and eventually they get released in time. But the worst of the worst NEVER get released. I have been contacted by MANY people who can't even get Pardons, and have to apply for a Royal Prerogative of Mercy, because we DO have a careful system.
Remember, we have a BETTER system than the United States, because judges don;t have to listen to populist racist politicians like PP. They follow the CHARTER of rights and freedoms. It doesn't make them perfect, it simply makes them INDEPENDENT.
Remember. People vote Conservative "generally" when crime seems high, and people are scared. People vote Liberal when crime is lower and people feel optimistic. Conservatives KNOW this and have NEVER wanted crime to be lower. They want a punitive system yes, but they also know this makes the crime rate go UP, while they "appear" tough on crime.
The biggest factor in crime is POVERTY. Experts tell politicians this over and over. Want to stop crime? Make Oil companies give more money to alleviate poverty. Crime will go down. Oil companies during COVID when NO ONE was driving, MADE billions in profits still. But they give money to political parties because crime isn't something they care about....just KEEPING profits, to make their share price go up. Which the executives get as bonuses.
We can lower crime. But ONLY if we do the SMART thing. Not the racist thing.