Carney announces sweeping plan to crack down on crime, strengthen the border
Liberal Leader Mark Carney unveiled his party’s comprehensive public safety plan during a campaign stop in Brampton, Ont. The plan focuses on cracking down on gangs, protecting children, reducing intimate partner violence, and tackling the illegal flow of drugs and guns coming from the United States.
Carney highlighted the impact of American policies on Canadian safety, stating that irresponsible American gun laws and weak border enforcement are allowing criminals to bring illegal guns into Canada. He also criticized U.S.-based online platforms for fostering racism, misogyny, and hate, which are being used by criminals to harm Canadians, especially children.
The Liberal public safety plan includes measures to support police, Canada Border Services Agency officers, and other first responders. One key initiative is the reinvigoration of the assault-style firearm buyback program, which was launched in 2020 but has yet to start. The plan also includes policies such as automatically revoking gun licenses for those convicted of violent crimes, giving more authority to the RCMP in classifying new firearm models, and increasing funding for forensic laboratories to track down guns used in crimes.
Carney emphasized the importance of being tough on gun control to combat crime effectively while still respecting the rights of hunters and Indigenous people to use firearms for sport and tradition.
In addition to addressing gun violence, the Liberal leader’s plan focuses on protecting children from online crimes, strengthening laws against child-luring, and increasing penalties for distributing intimate images without consent. The plan also includes measures to combat hate crimes and empower law enforcement to crack down on criminal activities.
Carney’s proposals aim to improve community safety by increasing funding for the Canada Community Security Program, introducing legislation to protect places of worship, schools, and community centers, and enhancing mental health services for first responders.
In response to Carney’s plan, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the Liberal government’s track record on crime and proposed his own “three-strikes-and-you’re-out law” to keep repeat offenders behind bars for longer. Poilievre’s proposal aims to classify three-time serious, violent criminals as “dangerous offenders” and require them to serve a minimum sentence of 10 years to life for their third offence.
The contrasting approaches of the Liberal and Conservative parties highlight the importance of public safety in the upcoming election. Carney’s focus on comprehensive measures to combat crime and protect Canadians reflects the Liberal party’s commitment to building safe, secure, and strong communities.
