Tories Accused Of Playing Politics With Crime Bill

The omnibus legislation is composed of five bills that were previously before Parliament, and deals with issues such as violent and gun crimes, dangerous offender and the age of sexual consent. "We will be holding, particularly, the Liberals to account on this," Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said Thursday. "If they are serious about getting tough on crime . . . they should have no problem in expediting this bill through the legislative process in both houses of Parliament." But the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP said Thursday so much of the bill had already been amended and approved by the opposition in the last session, they will support it at least in the early stages. "They're doing this to embarrass the Liberals. I'm not a Liberal, so I'm not embarrassed," said Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe. Three of the five bills melded together in the package had passed the Commons and were in the Senate when the prime minister announced he was proroguing Parliament this summer. http://www.thestar.com/News/article/268240

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