Manitoba PCs pledge to push Ottawa for justice reforms if re-elected

Manitoba Progressive Conservatives are promising to call together other provincial justice ministers to push Ottawa for reforms in the criminal justice system

Manitoba Progressive Conservatives are promising to call together other provincial justice ministers to push Ottawa for reforms in the criminal justice system if the party wins a third consecutive term next week.

PC candidates Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) and Rejeanne Caron (Fort Rouge) made the announcement on Friday in Winnipeg.

Goertzen says the meeting with other ministers would include recommending sentencing changes to the federal Criminal Code for violent and repeat offenders, including youth.

"We need to come together across Canada to seriously rethink some of the flaws in our criminal justice system, and I believe from experience that we will find support from other provinces," said Goertzen, who served as Manitoba's justice minister before the legislature was dissolved ahead of the provincial election.

He says it's time to get tougher on crime.