[JURIST] Canadian Justice Minister Vic Toews [official website] introduced two anti-crime bills Thursday in the Canadian Parliament [official website] as the new Conservative party government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper made good on its January election promises to get tough on offenders. The first bill, the Mandatory Minimum Penalties Bill [text; backgrounder; press release] would ensure that violent offenders receive a mandatory minimum sentence. The second, the Conditional Sentencing Reform Bill [text; backgrounder; press release] would eliminate conditional sentencing, such as house arrest, for those criminals committing serious crimes, such as violent and sexual offenses, crimes involving drugs, and crimes committed against children.

Under the proposed legislation, criminals who commit a serious, violent, or gang-related crime while using a gun would be sentenced to a mandatory five years in jail for a first time offense, seven years for the second offense, and ten years for the third related offense. CBC News has more.