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Weston backs Harper on drug sentencing

Key to making streets and communities safer, says Conservative party candidate
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John Weston, the Conservative candidate in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea-to-Sky Country, welcomed leader Stephen Harper’s call for mandatory minimum prison sentences of at least two years for people convicted of serious drug offences. Harper, speaking in Burnaby Saturday, called for the mandatory minimum sentences for anyone convicted of trafficking, importing, exporting or manufacturing drugs such as heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and large amounts (over 3 kg) of marijuana or hashish.

“Unfortunately, we can’t take safe communities for granted anymore,” Weston said in a release. “Our families are deeply concerned about the spread of drugs from inner cities to suburbs to even more rural areas, and a Conservative government will work hard to fight this scourge.”

Weston announced he is assembling a group of experts on crime to tackle the problem.

“The Liberal government ignored the increase in crime that stems from drug dealing,” Weston continued. “The Conservatives want to take action and crack down on the criminals who deal drugs in our communities.”

In addition to mandatory minimum sentences Harper also announced the Conservatives would ban house arrest sentencing for serious drug crimes; introduce higher fines for drug dealers and producers, based on the street value of drugs; make the chemical ingredients of crystal meth harder to obtain; introduce a drug prevention strategy focused on youth.