Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Liberals set to introduce changes to drug laws

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Dec, 2021 11:43 AM
  • Liberals set to introduce changes to drug laws

The federal Liberals are expected to introduce a bill in the House of Commons today that would revive a legislative push to repeal mandatory minimum penalties for drug offences.

On Friday the government gave the House of Commons a procedural heads-up that a bill to amend the Criminal Code and federal drug laws would be introduced on Monday.

A previous bill the Liberals tabled in February failed to gain parliamentary approval before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kickstarted an election campaign in August.

Had it passed, the bill would have allowed for greater use of conditional sentences, such as house arrest, counselling or treatment, for people who do not pose a threat to public safety.

The government's thinking for the bill was that too many lower-risk and first-time offenders were being imprisoned, often capturing a disproportionate number of Indigenous and Black people.

The bill from Justice Minister David Lametti is one of several pieces of business scheduled for the House of Commons, including a push from the Opposition Conservatives to split a new pandemic aid bill in two so MPs could vote separately on support to businesses and workers.

The Liberals say they want the aid package approved before MPs go on their winter holiday break in two weeks.

MORE National ARTICLES

Delta man pleads guilty to 2020 arson: police

Delta man pleads guilty to 2020 arson: police
Police in Delta, B.C., say an investigation into a fire that burned down a commercial building on New Year's Day last year has ended with a guilty plea. Deputy Chief Harj Sidhu says officers retrieved key information from a digital video recorder that had been submerged in water, through help from the local fire department and municipal engineering services.

Delta man pleads guilty to 2020 arson: police

368 COVID19 cases for Thursday

368 COVID19 cases for Thursday
There are currently 3,020 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 213,694 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 284 individuals are in hospital and 97 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

368 COVID19 cases for Thursday

Commons alone can decide vaccine mandate: Rota

Commons alone can decide vaccine mandate: Rota
House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says the chamber's governing body overstepped its authority when it required anyone entering the Commons precinct to be fully vaccinated. Rota has sided with the Conservatives in concluding that the all-party board of internal economy did not have the authority to impose a vaccine mandate.

Commons alone can decide vaccine mandate: Rota

COVID-19 testing confusion at Canadian airports

COVID-19 testing confusion at Canadian airports
As health officials from around the world warned about the new Omicron variant, Ottawa announced earlier this week that all air passengers entering Canada, except those from the United States, need to be tested upon arrival and isolate until they get their results.

COVID-19 testing confusion at Canadian airports

Helijet to add electric helicopters to B.C. fleet

Helijet to add electric helicopters to B.C. fleet
Helijet president Danny Sitnam says the company has partnered with Blade, a technology company, to begin work to build and integrate the so-called electric vertical aircraft into its fleet.

Helijet to add electric helicopters to B.C. fleet

Thief steals package with expensive stroller and uses a stolen Mercedes to commit the crime

Thief steals package with expensive stroller and uses a stolen Mercedes to commit the crime
The theft caught on camera shows a vehicle with its trunk already open pulling up to a doorstep with a large box sitting out front. Within moments, a woman from the vehicle grabs the package and is seen on camera jamming the box into the car.

Thief steals package with expensive stroller and uses a stolen Mercedes to commit the crime