HALIFAX - Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan warned Wednesday that a federal election would jeopardize efforts by the Conservative government to get tough on crime.
Van Loan said if the Liberals force an "unnecessary vote" it will kill several bills currently on the order paper.
"What is of concern with an election looming is the number of pieces of legislation that we have on the tackling crime front that would be at risk," he told a news conference shortly after announcing almost $2 million in crime prevention spending.
Van Loan cited several examples including legislation to increase sentences for major drug crimes and tighten the rules for parole.
One of them is a Tory bill that would change the so-called faint hope clause, which currently gives some people convicted of serious crimes a chance at early parole.
"That (bill) would die on the order paper," he said.
Van Loan denied that the Halifax crime prevention announcement was in any way campaign-like, adding that the government has been outlining similar program spending across the country over the past year.
"There's nothing new in this, it's just that the opposition has traditionally come from the other parties to have tougher laws."
Van Loan said providing resources to help young people make better choices may keep them out of gangs.
The money is being given to the Mi'kmaq Legal Support Network, The Chebucto Communities Development Association and the Atlantic Co-ordinating Committee on Crime Prevention and Community Safety.
The announcement was welcomed by Halifax deputy police chief Chris MacNeil, whose department has been dealing with several recent shooting incidents, the result of an ongoing gang war.
"In many ways we've lost this generation. What these programs do is prevent the next generation from stepping in to take their place," he said.
"As a police officer I can take back any corner from drug dealing and violence. The question is 'How do we keep it that way?' "
He said the only way to do it is with preventive programs such as those announced by the minister.
