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By Kevin Dougherty

QUEBEC — The federal government’s new omnibus justice bill, which imposes longer and mandatory prison sentences, runs counter to Quebec’s policy of rehabilitating young offenders and is one of a series of measures by the Conservative government that make “a very, very strong case for Quebec’s independence,” Parti Quebecois member of legislature Bernard Drainville said Tuesday.

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“It’s a defeat for Quebec, it’s a defeat for our values,” Drainville told reporters about Bill C-10, adopted Monday by the House of Commons.

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If Quebec was a country, the law would not apply, Drainville said, noting that provincial Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier said in Montreal the new law would cost the province $1 billion to apply in the next three years, including $750-million for new prisons.

“Who will pay?” Drainville asked, pointing out that Fournier has said Quebec would not pay for the Harper government’s election promises, and called on the federal government to pony up the cash.