Final vote expected on bill reforming mandatory minimum sentencing
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OTTAWA — Federal MPs are anticipated to vote this afternoon on whether or not to undertake the Liberals’ obligatory minimums invoice and ship it to the Senate.
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Invoice C-5 would amend the Legal Code to take away obligatory minimal sentences for all drug convictions and for some firearms and tobacco-related offences.
Prosecutors would even be required to contemplate referring defendants to therapy packages or different help companies as an alternative of charging them for easy drug possession offences.
Justice Minister David Lametti has argued the adjustments, which reverse “powerful on crime” measures handed beneath Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, would goal the overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous peoples within the felony justice system.
Canadian courts have already struck down some obligatory minimal sentences, calling them unconstitutional.
If the invoice passes each the Home of Commons and Senate, it is going to be Liberals’ first main transfer on the file after promising to overview obligatory minimums in 2015.