Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson headed to Vancouver on Friday to announce new anti-gang and anti-gun-crime initiatives. (CBC)The Conservative government reintroduced legislation on Friday aimed at drug traffickers and organized crime by proposing mandatory jail sentences for serious drug offences.

Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced the proposed measures at RCMP headquarters in Vancouver, a city that has seen a recent spike in gun violence largely attributed to drug-related gang turf wars.

"Our message to potential offenders is clear: if you sell or produce drugs, you will face jail time," the minister said of the measures, which are similar to leglislation that died on the order paper when the last Parliament was dissolved.

It came a day after the Tories announced stiffer mandatory sentences for gang-related crimes, which Prime Minister Stephen Harper said were "essential" to strengthening Canada's criminal justice system.

The proposed changes to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act include a mandatory two-year sentence for dealing drugs such as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamines to young people and a two-year mandatory sentence for running large-scale marijuana grow-operations.

It would impose a minimum one-year term for the sale of drugs such as marijuana for organized crime purpose, as well as for drug dealers carrying a weapon or being involved in violence.

Those caught dealing drugs near a school or in an area normally frequented by young people would also face the mandatory two-year sentence.

The proposed changes would increase the maximum sentence for marijuana production to 14 years, from seven, and impose tougher penalties for trafficking in so-called date-rape drugs.

The proposed legislation would allow a drug treatment court to suspend the sentence of an addict who sells drugs to allow the person to complete an approved treatment program, according to a press release by the federal Justice Department.

Like the anti-gang violence bill, Nicholson indicated the drug legislation will not be subject to a confidence vote in the House of Commons. He urged all parties to ensure the swift passage of the bills.

B.C. situation 'critical': Oppal

B.C. Attorney General Wally Oppal says he still wants to see more changes to the Criminal Code. (CBC)B.C.'s Attorney General Wally Oppal, however, said he is already disappointed with what he's heard from the justice minister this week, after returning home empty-handed from a meeting in Ottawa this week.

Oppal was on Parliament Hill on Thursday with B.C. Solicitor General John van Dongen to press federal politicians to make three main changes to Canada's Criminal Code.

Oppal and van Dongen want the federal government to change evidence disclosure laws to speed up trials. They also want to make it easier to tap wireless communications, and to end the practice of granting convicts two-for-one credit for time served while awaiting trial.

The B.C. officials said they believe the changes are critical to help police and prosecutors crack down on gangs and guns crimes.

While the Vancouver politicians were in Ottawa, the prime minister was in Vancouver to meet with Metro Vancouver police chiefs and the families of some of B.C.'s victims of gang violence.

That meant Oppal and van Dongen could only meet with Nicholson, who was busy introducing his own bill in Parliament to crackdown on gangs and gun crimes.

Oppal said B.C.'s requests got a cool reception from Nicholson, who made no firm commitment to amend the laws.

"Our situation is critical," Oppal said. "We made that quite clear to the minister. He is on side, but he gave no commitment to telling us exactly when these changes would come."

The legislation tabled on Thursday would classify gang killings as first-degree murder, and carry an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years.

The proposed changes to the Criminal Code would also create a new offence and a minimum four-year prison term for drive-by shootings, with the possibility of up to 14 years behind bars.

The Liberals and NDP have said they support the anti-gang bill in principle, but criticized the government for not doing enough on crime prevention.

With files from the Canadian Press