Provinces worry about crime bill costs
Posted November 2, 2011 9:04 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The country’s two largest provinces don’t want to cover the cost of the new Conservative crime bill; BC also has some concerns.
The big worry is just how much it will cost to cover the increase in court time as well as the number of people behind bars in provincial jails. University of Ottawa Criminologist Ronald-Frans Melchers says they can complain, it doesn’t mean the Tories will listen.
“The federal Conservative party has its own agenda and is marching forward on those issue without listening to anyone, least of all provinces,” he explains.
He says there’s not much the premiers can do. “The provinces don’t enact the Criminal Code or the federal statutes that the provincial police, courts, and correctional facilities have to administer.”
Premier Christy Clark admits to having concerns as well, but won’t take a firm position until Victoria finishes crunching the numbers.
