After almost four years of touting backroom diplomacy as the best way to lobby other levels of government, Mayor Sam Katz is now bashing Ottawa out in the open.
For the third time in a month, Katz has taken federal politicians to task over law-enforcement issues, suggesting Monday that Liberal senators are getting in the way of federal Tory efforts to get tough on crime.
Maria Chaput
"Sometimes, the government comes forward with great initiatives and then they're stalled in the senate," Katz said in a reference to Bill C-2, a piece of Conservative crime-fighting legislation that passed through the House of Commons in November.
In February, the federal Tories accused the Liberal-dominated Senate of holding up C-2, which promised stiffer penalties for gun crimes, longer sentences for drug-impaired driving and new measures that would make it tougher for people accused of weapons offences to get bail.
"What concerns people is an unelected bunch of senators can hold up the democratic will of Canadians," Manitoba senior MP Vic Toews said at the time.
On Monday, Katz espoused similar rhetoric at a press conference that saw him call on MPs and senators to support maximum sentences for violent criminals and longer jail time for repeat offenders.
"The last time the federal government took some initiatives, they were stalled in the senate for a long time. We don't want to see that. We want to see initiatives go forward and we want to see quick and prompt action," said Katz, adding Winnipeggers are tired of the "sick game" played by serial car thieves who injure police officers and kill innocent people.
"I want to make sure all members of Parliament and everyone in the senate understands what the problem is and doesn't wait for another fatality."
Katz's comments immediately ran afoul of Liberal senators who insist they're not stonewalling the Tory legislation, but ensuring it undergoes a thorough review.
"The upper chamber has become a whipping boy for politicians," said Liberal Senator Maria Chaput, reiterating the notion Liberals in the senate try to defeat government legislation while the Conservatives are in power.
But Winnipeg's mayor has fired off salvos at the Conservatives as well as Liberals in recent weeks.
On April 14, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Winnipeg to announce new measures to combat automobile theft, Katz dismissed proposed rules about chop shops as useless for the Manitoba capital, where joyriding is the prime motive for stealing cars.
Then on May 1, Katz blasted federal MPs for failing to listen to a coalition of Manitoba politicians -- including the provincial NDP, Tory and Liberal leaders -- who travelled to Ottawa last year to plead for tougher rules to combat car theft. That prompted Toews to again complain Liberal and NDP MPs were "standing in the way."
Ever since he took office in 2004, Katz has repeatedly said the best way to get other levels of governments to take action is to engage in quiet diplomacy behind the scenes.
But he's no longer employing that strategy when it comes to law-enforcement issues.
"When it comes to crime, I put people's lives at the top of the priority list," Katz said. "The problems taking place in our city are getting worse and the issue has to be dealt with."
Also on Monday, on the floor of the Manitoba legislature, acting Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh -- under fire from Tory justice critic Gerald Hawranik -- said the province continues to work with Ottawa to change gang and gun legislation.
-- with files from Bruce Owen
bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca
mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
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