By rdnewsNOW staff

private member’s bill

Calkins introduces bill to help tackle rural crime

Apr 20, 2021 | 9:15 PM

Red Deer-Lacombe Conservative MP Blaine Calkins has introduced a private member’s bill aimed at helping address the rural crime crisis happening in many communities.

“Rural Canadians too often don’t feel safe in their own homes. Many have been victimized so often they’ve given up reporting property crime. It is often difficult for people to get affordable insurance if they can get it at all,” Calkins said.

“My constituents are tired of being victims. They’re tired of the revolving door of the justice system, and of crime not being taken seriously. They are losing faith in the justice system, because too often it puts criminals before victims and their families.”

Calkins says Bill C-289 will toughen measures for criminals who victimize rural Canadians by creating an aggravating factor at sentencing for targeting people and property that are vulnerable due to remoteness from emergency medical or police service.

The bill also makes the existing aggravating factor for home invasion more applicable for rural crime by including outbuildings, such as barns and shops, as well as allowing the aggravating factor to be triggered by the presence of a weapon.

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The bill would also have judges carefully consider why an offender didn’t get bail when assigning credit for time served.

“While provincial governments have taken action to combat rural crime, the Trudeau Liberals have been missing in action at a time when federal leadership is needed the most. Canada’s Conservatives are offering a pragmatic and meaningful step forward in fighting the rural crime crisis across our country.”