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Current Affairs (2012) - Chronological (9 items)
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Bill C- 15: Bill to Amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
<h1<a href="http://drugsense.org/url/X5oTvm3F">See Mandatory Minimum Sentences</a></h1>

<strong>
New section 5(3)(a.1) of the CDSA reenacts the current section 5(4) of the CDSA and imposes a maximum punishment of imprisonment for five years less a day if the trafficking offence is for a small amount of cannabis or its derivatives, as listed in Schedule II.

Clause 1 amends the CDSA to impose a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of two years if certain other aggravating factors apply, including that the offence was committed in or near a school, on or near school grounds, or in or near any other public place usually frequented by persons under the age of 18 years. <u>Defining such places may prove to be difficult.</u>

Clause 2 of Bill C-15 imposes a mandatory minimum punishment of imprisonment for one year if the offence is committed for the purpose of trafficking and the substance involved is included in Schedule I and is in an amount that does not exceed one kilogram, or is listed in Schedule II. As in clauses 1 and 3, the maximum punishment of imprisonment for life is retained.

Mandatory minimum punishments will also be introduced for the production of cannabis (marihuana), with their length depending upon the number of marihuana plants produced.- The term of imprisonment will be at least six months if the number of plants produced is fewer than 201 and the production is for the purpose of trafficking.- The minimum penalty increases to nine months in these circumstances if any of the health and safety factors apply</strong>

<h2>LINKS</h2>
<strong>See</strong>:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/CannabisFactsForCdns" target="_blank">Video of Senate Hearings testimony</a>
<strong>See</strong>:<a href="http://www.cannabisfacts.ca/SenateCtteeMtgs_BillC-15.html" target="_blank">Transcripts from the Hearings</a>

<h2>TIMELINE</h2>
<strong>December 30, 2009</strong>: Prime Minister Shuts Down Parliament until March, 2010 - Kills Bill C-15
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<strong>December 9, 2009</strong>: The Senate has voted to amend Bill C-15. The bill will now go to Third Reading in the Senate, and then will be forwarded back to the House of Commons.
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<strong>December 3, 2009</strong>: Canadian Senate Committee Passes Bill C-15 with minor amendments. Now goes to Senate as a whole for a vote, then signed by the Governor General to become law. See: <a href="http://whyprohibition.ca/blogs/kirk-tousaw/what-does-c-15-mean-after-senate-amendments" target="_blank">What does C-15 mean after the Senate amendments?</a>
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<strong>September 17, 2009</strong>: <a href="http://drugsense.org/url/muTL3Xfb" target="_blank">Bill C-15: 2nd Reading</a> - On motion of Senator Wallace, bill referred to Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, on division.
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<strong>June 25, 2009</strong>:It was moved by the Honourable Senator Tardif, seconded by the Honourable Senator Fraser, that debate be adjourned to the next sitting of the Senate.
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<strong>June 22, 2009</strong>: <a href="http://drugsense.org/url/E4jyy46n" target="_blank">Bill C-15 goes to the Senate for second reading</a>

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<strong>June 10, 2009</strong>: <a href="http://drugsense.org/url/FJUAkBQQ" target="_blank">Bill C-15 goes to the Senate for first reading</a>

The Hon. the Speaker informed the Senate that a message had been
received from the House of Commons with Bill C-15, An Act to amend the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related and
consequential amendments to other Acts.
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<strong>June 8, 2009</strong>: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azCCzlVUYQg" target="_blank">Bill C-15, mandatory minimum sentences for drug offences including marijuana passed the House of Commons 195/54. </a>
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<h2 align="center">Bill C-15 Newsfeed</h2>
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Feb 2, 2012 Nunavut Justice Minister Denounces Tory Crime Bill


The Conservative government's massive new crime bill runs counter to a Supreme Court of Canada ruling on aboriginal justice, Nunavut's justice minister said Thursday.

New mandatory minimum sentences will overburden the territory's courts and corrections system and fly in the face of Criminal Code provisions on the treatment of aboriginal offenders, Daniel Shewchuk told the Senate's legal and constitutional affairs committee.

"The government of Nunavut believes that taking away discretion from judges is not the right approach."

Mr. Shewchuk noted that the Supreme Court recognized restorative justice principles in the 1999 Gladue decision, which addressed the over-representation of aboriginal Canadians in prisons.

The omnibus Bill C-10 combines nine different pieces of legislation, covering everything from drug and sex crimes to young offenders, criminal pardons and the issue of Canadians jailed abroad.


Feb 28, 2012 Crime Bill to Return to House of Commons With a Few Changes
The federal government's omnibus crime bill will be heading back to the House of Commons after senators approved changes to Bill C-10 early Monday.

The changes, proposed by Ontario Conservative Senator Bob Runciman, were approved easily, but changes Liberal senators wanted to the Safe Streets and Communities Act received a tougher ride, including a failed proposal to raise the number of marijuana plants one could legally grow to 20 from six

Mar 12, 2012 Bill C 10 passed by Conservatives
The Conservatives have used their majority to pass the so-called omnibus crime bill within the first 100 sitting days of Parliament as promised, despite continued opposition from Canada's largest provinces which vowed Monday not to sit back idly as the measures come into force.

<a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=5465759" target="_blank">C-10 Document</a>
Oct 12, 2012 Mandatory Minimums for Cannabis begin on November 6
REMINDER: Penalties of 6 months or more for growing 6 plants will start next month.


Harper is right, we won't recognize Canada when he is through with it.
Nov 6, 2012 MANDATORY MINIMUMS FOR GROWING 6+ PLANTS NOW IN EFFECT
On November 6, amendments to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act imposing mandatory minimum prison sentences for pot offences came into force. For example, possession of at least six cannabis plants is now punishable with six to nine months of imprisonment. If the same offence was committed for trafficking, the maximum penalty is increased to 14 years.

Nov 16, 2012 MMAR PPL/DPL Coalition against Repeal
Health Canada has proposed phasing out the Personal-Use Production License and Designated-Person Production License components of the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR). These licenses currently allow over 17, 000 Canadians to legally produce medical cannabis for themselves or on behalf of a patient. Instead of these licenses, Health Canada has proposed authorizing only a small number of large-scale producers and has not yet disclosed the requirements for applicants.

A legal challenge is being launched.
Nov 27, 2012 Quebec lawyers to contest mandatory minimum sentences
The Quebec Bar Association has announced its plan to contest the constitutionality of minimum sentencing in the Conservative government's omnibus crime legislation.


The controversial Bill C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, was passed last March in the House of Commons and lays out tougher jail sentences and mandatory minimum sentencing.

The bar association, which represents over 24,000 lawyers in the province, filed its motion with the Quebec Superior Court on Tuesday, asking it to rule on the constitutionality of the specific sections of the law that deal with mandatory minimum sentences.

Dec 15, 2012 Notices and Proposed Regulations
Vol. 146, No. 50 - December 15, 2012

Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations