TOUGHER LAW TARGETING GANGS AND OTHER FORMS OF ORGANIZED CRIME RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT

OTTAWA – July 6, 2009 –  Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (organized crime and protection of justice system participants), which recently received Royal Assent, will provide important new tools to fight the threats to Canadians posed by organized crime.

This Act will:

• Make murders connected to organized crime activity automatically first-degree. First-degree murder is subject to a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole for 25 years;
• Create a new offence to address drive-by and other reckless shootings.  This offence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison, with a maximum of 14 years. The minimum sentence increases if the offence was committed for a criminal organization or with a prohibited or restricted firearm such as a handgun; and
• Create two new offences of aggravated assault against a peace or public officer and assault with a weapon on a peace or public officer. These are punishable by maximum penalties of 14 and 10 years respectively.

The Government has introduced other key legislation which targets organized crime. Bill C-15, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, cracks down on drug crime related to criminal organizations, and Bill C-26, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (auto theft and trafficking in property obtained by crime)proposes tough action against the auto theft and property crimes that make organized crime profitable.

Bill C-14 received Royal Assent on June 23, 2009 and will come into force at a time to be determined, in order to allow the provinces and territories time to prepare for the changes.

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For more information:

• Darren Eke
  Press Secretary
  Minister’s Office
  613-992-4621

• Media Relations
  Department of Justice
  613-957-4207