The Liberal legislation to abolish some mandatory minimum sentences from the Criminal Code, according to the former head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, does not go far enough.
Bill C-5, according to Murray Sinclair, does not go nearly far enough to address the disproportionate representation of Black and Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.
He says the government has not provided data to justify a “piecemeal approach” that leaves two-thirds of mandatory minimum penalties in place.
At a meeting of the justice committee of the Senate, which is looking into the measure after the House of Commons passed it in June, Sinclair made the remarks this morning.
Some of the “tough on crime” policies put in place by previous Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper would be undone by the reforms.
Mandatory minimum sentences will be eliminated for all drug offences as well as those crimes involving firearms and tobacco if the Senate approves the bill as it is currently written.
The Canadian Press initially released this article on October 20, 2022.
Former TRC chair: Liberal bill to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences doesn’t go far enough.
About Author
