So on my way to get a tea and cookie this morning, I ran into our local incumbent candidate - Stephen Owen. I stopped briefly on the way in, but while getting my cookie, thought of a few questions.

I quizzed him on student funding, day care, and of course mandatory minimum sentences. I raised my constitutionality question about whether it was even constitutional to impose them, and he was able to refer to the Smith case (the one I mentioned in my last post!) - now, not that impressive since he is a former law professor, but it gave me a little thrill. So he's in agreement, that certainly the long ones are unconstitutional. Now what was interesting to me was that Owen said that the Green Party was proposing minimum sentences for gun crimes, some as long as 10 years. This was surprising to me - I checked their platform, and they do make reference to mandatory minimum sentences, though I found nothing about 10 years per se.

He seemed to have a much more comprehensive idea of criminal problems, and even mentioned increased funding for sports programs in communities for kids. He is Minister of Sport, so I guess he's had some time to think about that, but it was new to me, and is the type of long-term strategy I've been interested in seeing. Obviously, it would have to be part of something comprehensive, but I liked it.

I certainly hope to see more candidates around UBC. I did get a pamphlet from the Conservative, along with a long list of "justice" initiatives, such as longer sentences, no house arrests and so on. To me that seems like an expensive and ineffective way to combat crime.