August 3rd, 2010: Despite Stats Can data showing that crime is on the decrease in Canada, Treasury Board President Stockwell Day announces that the Conservative Government of Canada will go ahead with its plan to build new prisons.
August 4th, 2010: Justice Minister Rob Nicholson introduces new regulations to include eleven new serious offences. This change was made through an order-in-council on July 13th.
Then, on August 9th:
“I know some Canadians will have some reluctance to provide that and I know some people think the appropriate way to deal with that is through prosecuting those individuals with fines and jail terms. This government will not do that. In this day and age, that is not the appropriate way to get the public’s co-operation. So, we will work with the public to get their co-operation on providing that information.”
So let me get this straight. In this day and age, it is not appropriate to threaten Canadians with jail time to solicit their cooperation, but we are adding eleven new serious offences to the criminal code, and building new prisons to hold all the new criminals.
There is a disconnect there, right? It’s not just me?
