Harper guns for safety
Date: Feb 7, 2007 10:24 AM
PUBLICATION: The Calgary Sun
DATE: 2007.02.07
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: 25
ILLUSTRATION: photo of STEPHEN HARPER
BYLINE: KATHLEEN HARRIS, SUN MEDIA
DATELINE: OTTAWA
WORD COUNT: 247

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Harper guns for safety
PM promises more crackdowns on crime, gangs across Canada

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Canada’s streets were “ruled” by guns and gangs under the Grits and
the
Opposition parties could face voter backlash if an election is called
before key laws are passed to crack down on violent thugs, Prime
Minister Stephen Harper warned yesterday.

Drawing a sharp line between the accomplishments and future direction of
his Conservative government with the “drift, scandal and empty rhetoric”
of the Liberal past, Harper said Canadians will continue to see the
fundamental break from what they’ve known for most of the last 50 years.

“Everything we do is rooted in the values and aspirations of Canadians,”
he said in marking one year in government.

“Everything we do is designed to deliver practical, tangible benefits to
Canadians.

“And everything we do serves our ultimate goal — a stronger, safer,
better Canada.”

Harper accused the other parties of “Opposition obstructionism” for
blocking bills to impose mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes,
introduce a reverse onus on bail applications on gun crimes and lock up
violent, dangerous offenders longer.

“Mark my words — if an election does come before these bills pass, the
Opposition will have a lot of explaining to do,” he warned.

The PM said the Conservatives offer Canadians a “clear choice” on most
major issues from foreign affairs to tackling crime.

“A clear choice between a country that values safe streets and safe
communities, versus a country where the streets are ruled by guns, gangs
and drugs,” he said.

The PM also boasted Canada is reclaiming its place on the world stage by
rebuilding the Canadian Forces and developing an “assertive” foreign
policy.

And while he’s committed to improving Canada-U.S. relations, Harper
compared the relationship to a “grizzly bear and a wolverine” rather
than a “mouse sleeping with an elephant.”

“We may be smaller, but we’re no less fierce about protecting our
territory,” he said.