Poilievre vows life sentences for serial human traffickers, gun runners and drug dealers
Pierre Poilievre announced that he would impose life sentences on individuals convicted of serious crimes such as serial human trafficking, illegal firearm dealing and fentanyl distribution.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced that he would impose life sentences on individuals convicted of serious crimes such as serial human trafficking, large-scale illegal firearm dealing and fentanyl distribution.
Poilievre announced his plan during a Thursday night rally in Surrey, B.C.–a focal point for gang and drug-related crime. Poilievre announced that if elected, his government would impose life sentences against large-scale fentanyl traffickers, anyone convicted of five or more counts of human trafficking and anyone convicted of importing or exporting 10 or more illegal firearms.
He also pledged to end automatic bail for anyone charged with human trafficking.
“We will also strengthen human trafficking laws so prosecutors do not have to prove that traffickers used fear or intimidation. If you exploit or terrorize the innocent, you will never walk free again,” he said in a video released Friday. “No more weak sentences, no more revolving door justice system, no more liberal failures.”
Poilievre also signalled he would reverse changes to human trafficking laws implemented by the Liberals.
“The Carney-Trudeau liberals also weakened several of Canada’s human trafficking laws by making them hybrid offences and drastically reducing the possible penalties for this horrific crime of human slavery,” he said.
According to Statistics Canada, there’s been a 60% increase in annual human trafficking instances from 2015 to 2022. Conservatives claimed there has been an 84% increase since 2015.
Additionally, according to the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, there has been a 238% increase in annual calls to the Human Trafficking Hotline since 2019, when the program started.
Poilievre described the case of Amber and Loriston Maloney, who in July 2023, were on trial for human trafficking and were released on bail, only to be re-arrested for breaking terms of bail.
“What was their punishment? Bail, again, tragically, this is not an isolated case,” Poilievre said in the video. “It’s happening across Canada, and it’s getting worse.”
Poilievre also repeated his long-held pledge to repeal the Liberals’ “catch and release laws,” Bill C-5 and Bill C-75. Conservatives criticized the bills, as Bill C-5 eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for gun and drug crimes, and Bill C-75 mandated that courts prioritize granting bail and lenient sentencing.
Poilievre pledged to focus on illegal guns being trafficked across the border rather than the Liberal approach of going after legal firearms owners.
“You may have heard that Donald Trump says there’s a problem at the border, but the problem is in the other direction,” Poilievre said. “Illegal Guns are coming into Canada. Violent crime is up 50% since Carney Trudeau, Liberals came to power.”
He noted that the Toronto Police Association warned that 85% of guns seized by their members can be sourced back to the United States.
“In fact, 99% of shipping containers come into Canada uninspected, and much of it is done through organized crime rings that bring in massive shipments of illegal guns that take lives,” Poilievre said. “More people have died from opioid overdoses in the last eight years than died for fighting for Canada in World War Two again. fentanyl traffickers are mass murderers spreading these poisons in our streets, often with impunity.”
Poilievre is promising a hard-on-crime approach from his government, and a repealing of Liberal soft-on-crime policies will bring crime in Canada down and improve public safety and public health.
“We will lock up the dangerous offenders who have put you in these awful circumstances, and we will throw away the key,” he said, addressing victims of human trafficking. “What’s more, we will protect you and give you a chance at a better life and a brighter future.”
Pierres Conservative Strategists are telling him it's time to restart his campaign and I agree. The scripted notes and tired sound bites are being ignored, as just so long they resonate with the voting public. Now it's time to let loose like he does at rallys. People want to know what he's going to do about Trump tariffs.. and the present situation . We know how bad the Liberals have been in the past. Rallys don't win elections. So please Pierre kick it up a few notches. Drop the one liners cause there's a need for some straight talk.