Mandatory Minimum Sentencing

I am very pleased to see the Conservative government take action and introduce a bill legislating mandatory minimum sentencing for violent offences. This is another part of Stephen Harper's five-point checklist, and one which will resonate well with a large segment of the population that is tired of seeing violent offenders receive a slap on the wrist for their heinous crimes. There is one shortcoming that I have noticed so far, which may be due to the ambiguities of the news reports in their summation of the changes in the laws regarding violent sexual offences. As such I have written to the Justice Minister, Vic Toews, and the Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day, seeking clarification. That letter is re-printed below.

Dear Honourable Ministers,
I applaud the tabling of the two bills by the Government today that introduce mandatory minimum sentences for a wide range of criminal offences. These measures are important in providing safer streets in Canadian cities and a greater sense of security for Canadians. I do have one question regarding sentencing for rape, sexual assaults, sexual assaults on minors, and the distribution and possession of pornography and child pornography, which I hope that you can clarify.
The news reports I have read are somewhat ambiguous on these major offences that primarily target women and young children, making mention of eliminating house arrests for those violent offenders who prey on women and children and that there are maximum sentences for such crimes. My question is thus: will there be mandatory minimum sentences imposed on violent offenders who commit rape, sexual assault, and engage in prostitution/child prostitution-related activities?
Having increased my awareness of the alarming figures on rape, sexual assaults, pornography, and prostitution in Canada and North America generally, which clearly demonstrate a profoundly negative effect on our society and create a significant feeling of insecurity among women and children, I hope that this Government will take strong action on these violent offenders. I am appalled that the Youth wing of the federal Liberal Party has advocated the decriminalization of prostitution, effectively legitimating the deplorable conduct of the people who treat women and children as commodities to be bought and sold, depriving those people of their hopes, dreams, and personal spirit in order to make a profit from their bodies. I am even more appalled that the so-called "grown-ups" in that party have not repudiated that measure unequivocally and stood by for 13 years as the number of rapes, sexual assaults, and recruiting of women and children into the sex slave trade dramatically increased.
Your Government is in a tremendous position to stand up for Canadians and say,"No more. No more women and children will be forced to suffer in silence and live with injustice because their government failed to protect them." I urge you both to take action to protect Canadians by clarifying the Government's position on mandatory minimum sentencing for violent sexual offenders. I look forward to hearing a response from you, and truly appreciate your taking the time to read this letter.
Sincerely yours,
Richard McAdam