Minister Rona Ambrose made this press release in Edmonton today with myself and other alleged victims of Shire International in attendance. Similar press releases were also made in Montreal and Ottawa.
Ottawa on Wednesday will introduce long-awaited legislation that would impose a minimum two-year mandatory prison sentence to anyone convicted of committing fraud over $1 million regardless of the number of victims.
“Fraud can have a devastating impact on the lives of its victims, including feelings of humiliation for having been deceived into voluntarily handing over their life savings” federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said Tuesday. “This legislation will help crack down on white-collar crime and increase justice for victims by providing tougher sentences for the criminals responsible.”
The proposed new law will also add aggravating factors to be considered when handing down sentences in such fraud cases, including:
• The financial and psychological impact of the fraud on the victim, given the victim’s particular circumstances such as age, health and financial situation;
• If the offender failed to comply with applicable licensing rules or professional standards;
• The magnitude, complexity and duration of the fraud, and the degree of planning that went into it.
Media coverage so far can be found at the following links:
http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/LocalNews/story.aspx?ID=1153391
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g5M1-rD7f3LoMAE9zTGKrdPaf2Hw
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tough+legislation+fight+white+collar+crime/2124485/story.html
Several other related news articles
Ottawa proposes get-tough legislation for white-collar crime
- TV coverage with several of the Earl Jones & Mont Real victims interviewed at today's Montreal press conference with Hon. Minister Christian Paradis
Watch the CTV NEWS VIDEO PLAYER (see: Caroline Van Vlaardingen reports) at http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091020/mtl_white_collar_crime_091020/20091020/?hub=MontrealHome
More CTV News Coverage:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091020/white_collar_091020/20091020?hub=QPeriod
Ottawa vows tougher white-collar sentencing
The Toronto Star http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/712924--ottawa-vows-tougher-white-collar-sentencing
White-collar criminals face new sentences
The Globe & Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/white-collar-criminals-face-new-sentences/article1330732/
The Globe & Mail - Business http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20091020.wwhitecollar1020/BNStory/Business/
Ottawa unveils white collar crime bill
The Globe & Mail online video http://www.theglobeandmail.com/video/ottawa-unveils-white-collar-crime-bill/article1330741/
White-Collar Redux (x2)
CBC News http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/politicalbytes/2009/10/white-collar-redux-x2.html
