moved for leave to introduce Bill C-426, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (growing or producing cannabis).
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my colleague, the member for Sarnia—Lambton, who has helped me with the bill.
I am pleased to rise in the House today to introduce a bill which seeks to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, something which I believe needs to be amended.
In my community, like in many others in Canada, there is an alarming growth in the number of large scale marijuana grow operations. While law enforcement officials are putting every effort into eliminating these operations to catch the individuals involved, they have expressed a great dismay to me that the courts do not seem to be giving these criminals adequate sentencing.
The purpose of the bill is to provide real sentences and real punishment for those convicted of growing or producing cannabis. It would provide a minimum sentence of imprisonment, along with a minimum fine for first time offenders, and greater punishment for repeat offenders.
I am introducing this bill because it is past time to get tough on these large scale grow ops. I believe that this bill would do just that, and I look to all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)