Comments by Big Baron

very interesting; thank you. In Canada we are moving towards the US model with longer sentences and mandatory minimums, even in the face of the evidence that mandatory minimums do not reduce crime. It is estimated by the Canadian government that the cost of these new laws in terms of new prison construction will be on the order of 5 billion dollars over the next five years. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your article to my member of parliament. Interestingly, surveys in Canada indicate that the majority of Canadians do not want mandatory minimums, but the province of Alberta does - the power base of the Conservative party, the current governing party.