Canada’s Supreme Court recently struck down mandatory minimum sentences for child pornography offences, prompting backlash from conservative leaders who argue this undermines the severity of such crimes. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have called for the use of the notwithstanding clause to reinstate the one-year minimum sentence. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre vowed to reintroduce mandatory sentences if his party forms the next government, emphasizing the need for harsher penalties for offenders. The court’s 5-4 decision deemed the mandatory minimums unconstitutional, citing potential violations of the Charter’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
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