Why did former MP received such a low sentence????

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N-D-P Leader Jack Layton says a lot of Canadians are probably shaking their heads. I know I am.

Former Conservative M-P and husband of cabinet minister Helena Guergis.

Rahim Jaffer was fined 500 dollars yesterday after pleading guilty to careless driving. What has the opposition so upset is the fact that - in a plea deal - the crown dropped charges of impaired driving and
possession of cocaine.

The Liberals are calling on the federal government to order an appeal.

They accuse the Conservatives of being hypocritical with their get-tough-on-crime agenda.

As an M-P Jaffer supported tougher penalties for drunk drivers. And Liberal M-P Ujjal Dosanjh says the plea bargain flies in the face of the Conservative mantra of ensuring people do serious time for committing serious crimes.

Dosanjh says the government should stand behind its own crime agenda and order an appeal.

I'm not sure that could or should be done. But we do need an explanation from the crown.

Prosecutor Marie Balogh told the court there was no reasonable prospect of conviction on the serious charges, but she refused to comment afterwards.

What led to those charges being laid in the first place? Perhaps, instead of the opposition's contention that Jaffer received preferential treatment, he was actually treated more harshly because of his status.

Unless the crown talks, we may never know and - in this case, at least - we should.

I know plea arrangements are done every day. But this case is different.

First of all it involved a former government M-P who's married to a
current cabinet minister. Secondly, you have to the comments of the
judge.

In handing down the fine and accepting the plea, Justice Doug Maunder said he would not interfere with the joint submission by the
Crown and defence. But he also said he hopes Jaffer can recognize a
break when he sees one.

One would like to think Jaffer was treated no differently than anyone
else. But we need more information to determine whether that is so. As
it stands now, I think most Canadians would say if there was enough
evidence to warrant serious charges, there should have at least been a
trial.

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