The Conservatives announced new tough-on-crime legislation on Tuesday that is intended to crack down on the production of synthetic drugs such as ecstasy and methamphetamine.

Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced in Ottawa a three-part strategy that includes the following measures:

  • Boosting the RCMP's ability to prevent drugs from entering the country or being manufactured here, and to share information with other nations about "transnational targets."
  • Strengthening of regulations for the purchase of raw materials that can be used to make synthetic drugs.
  • Toughening of sentences for drug crimes that endanger communities, children or those who live near drug houses.

"Mandatory sentences would be included when the production of the drug constitutes a potential security, health or safety hazard," Nicholson said.

"For example, if children were in the location where the offence was committed or in the immediate area, or the production constituted a potential public safety hazard to a residential area or the accused placed or set a trap."

When pressed on what was new about the announcement, Van Loan called it a "refocusing of resources" from other areas, specifically to the fight against synthetic drugs.

He said some new money will be going to the initiative from the National Anti Drug Program, but said mostly it will mean bringing key law enforcement groups together to tackle synthetic drugs together -- "organizing against the organized criminals," he said.

Nicholson said it is vital that MPs, and the opposition in particular, pass the new legislation in the fall when Parliament resumes.

"Having this legislation passed as quickly as possible would better protect out communities and send a very clear message that if you are into the business of producing and trafficking drugs, if you run grow ops and meth labs in our neighbourhoods, if you threaten the safety of Canada's communities, you will be looking at serving jail time," Nicholson said.