White-collar criminals to face tougher sentences under Bill C-21

Financial fraudsters will have to face longer sentences now that the federal government has passed part of its tough-on-crime legislation. Bill C-21 stipulates that white-collar criminals who commit financial fraud of more than $1 million face tougher sentencing.

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson was in Montreal on Tuesday to announce the legislative change. 

Judges now also have the power to consider aggravating factors in cases of fraud. For example, they can the age of the victims and the amount of money stolen. 

That is welcome news to people like Joey Davis. His parents were defrauded by West Island fraudster Earl Jones.

However, Quebec is speaking out against the costs associated with the federal government’s omnibus crime bill. Those costs include the expansion of the prison system. Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier says Bill C-10 would cost Quebec hundreds of millions of dollars. The federal government estimates the cost of the bill is $78.5 million over five years.

What’s more, Fournier says the legislation will only increase recidivism because of its lack of focus on rehabilitating and reintegrating prisoners.