White Collar Crime

The Conservatives are right that "white collar crime" is not dealt with well in Canada. My sense is better enforcement of existing laws is what is needed rather than new laws. As for the comment that the Opposition is getting in the way because of hesitation over changes to conditional sentencing -- well, that's just silly.


Tories promise action on white-collar crime
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The Harper government flexed its law-and-order muscles in the past three years against street racers, sex offenders, drug users and gang members.

But as white-collar criminals make headlines and expose flaws in the country's financial regulations, the Conservatives are turning their attention to the protection of fleeced investors, who are furious with the relatively weak sentences handed down in Canadian courts.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said this week that the opposition parties are delaying Criminal Code amendments that would have hit hard at the likes of Vincent Lacroix and Earl Jones, who are facing criminal charges over their handling of millions of dollars in investments.

“Our government has been trying to strengthen the criminal justice system, including … measures to toughen up penalties not just for violent crime, but for these kinds of white-collar crimes as well. The opposition has resisted that,” Mr. Harper said.

“These crimes have real victims. They may not be victims of violence, but they are real victims, suffering real pain, and we should have a justice system that responds accordingly,” the Prime Minister added.

Asked which bills the opposition have delayed, the Prime Minister's Office later pointed to legislation that would eliminate house arrest as a sentence for major crimes, including theft over $5,000.