OTTAWA - Justice Minister Rob Nicholson says the federal government is considering legislation that would set mandatory minimum sentences for white-collar criminals.
He was responding to a news report today that the government had no plans for such legislation.
Investment frauds have been big news in Canada and the United States recently.
Bilked investors have been angrily demanding tougher laws.
In the most recent Canadian case, Montreal investment counsellor Earl Jones is accused of swindling investors out of $30 million in a Ponzi scheme.
Nicholson says the government takes the issue seriously and will bring in legislation after Parliament resumes.
"We are looking at further options regarding white-collar crime, including legislating mandatory prison sentences," he told reporters in a conference call.
"One of the options that we're looking at is toughening up the provisions with respect to fraud and, with that, white-collar crime."
He wouldn't provide any details of the planned legislation.
