Citizen’s Group Grades BC Liberals and BC NDP Platforms on Crime
April 30, 2009 - VANCOUVER - Enough is Enough, a citizen’s group dedicated to electing candidates who will take tough action the criminal violence plaguing our streets, has graded both the BC NDP and BC Liberal party’s platforms on crime, and neither one is teacher’s pet. The NDP get a D, while the BC Liberal’s don’t fare much better with a dismal C +.
“Crime is a crucial issue right now, and both parties had the opportunity to take a tough stance on crime with their platforms, but failed”, said Keith Roy, spokesperson for Enough is Enough. “Both the BC Liberals and BC NDP play lip service to getting tough on crime, but fall short in their platforms. Both promise 168 new officers. Both promise to get tough on criminals with outstanding warrants from other promises, and both fall short on taking tough measures and giving our police and prosecutors the resources they need.”
The BC Liberals do have a good record of hiring over 1,000 more police officers since 2002, but eliminating 15 crown prosecutors in budget 2009, shows that crime is not a priority. This recent failure, in addition to a weak platform against crime earned the BC Liberals their low grade of C +. The BC NDP have promised 168 more officers if elected, but have refused to call for tougher sentencing or support eliminating house arrest. Their soft stance against crime earns them a flat D. Both parties have expended some effort, but fail to put forth comprehensive plans to tackle the issue head on, which is why they both get low grades. For the full report card, see the following page.
“Since neither of the two main parties has earned our general endorsement, Enough is Enough will be surveying individual candidates,” said Roy. Candidates will be endorsed based on their response to the survey, their record as public figures or activists, and their statements. The survey will ask candidates about their attitudes towards incarceration, judges and how many more police officers should be hired in the lower mainland with provincial funding.
Enough is Enough is mobilizing online and has launched a website www.enough-is-enough.ca for citizens to join our campaign and get the latest information. Enough is Enough is made up of citizens from across the Lower Mainland who want meaningful action on crime from our elected leaders.
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For more information: Keith Roy: 604-454-4219
Report Cards of Crime Platforms
Student: Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals
Record:
*Hired 1,100 new police officers since 2002.
*Encouraged the federal government to adopt tougher laws.
*Eliminated 15 Crown Prosecutors and reduced Crown prosecution budget by $5.5 million.
*Closed 10 jails, and 24 courthouses.
Promises:
*Construction of new jails.
*Outlawing armoured vehicles and body-armour used by gangs.
*Expanding reward programs for crime tips, and the “bait car” program.
*Increasing transit security by maintaining the 130 transit constables and introducing “smartcard” technology to reduce fare evasion, and installing cameras to make SkyTrain stations more secure.
*Deny those with outstanding warrants in other jurisdictions access to income assistance and other services and require them to return to those jurisdictions.
*Seek to combat dangerous drug use amongst youth.
Comments:
The BC Liberals talk a good game, and have taken some actions in the right direction. However, their decision to cut prosecutors in the most recent budget show that they do not understand the crisis. Promising not to cut transit constables and encouraging the federal government to do something hardly count as bold actions in a time when aggressive movement is needed.
Grade: C+
Student: Carol James and the BC NDP Promises:
*Hiring 168 new officers and creating an anti-gang prosecution unit
*Restricting bail for known gang members
*Pushing for tougher laws for gang-crime involving guns, body armour and armoured cars
*Expanding youth programs to discourage potential gang involvement
*Increasing the number of Transit constables
*Creating a provincially mandated police complaints process to increase transparency
*Striving to remove those facing arrest warrants elsewhere in Canada from BC and return them to their respective provinces
Comments:
The BC NDP are recent converts to getting tough on crime, and they are trying, but don’t quite get it yet. Hiring 168 new officers is far short of the 900 needed to get our region to the same per capita level as Montreal, and they are only promising to restore the recently cut prosecutors positions not increase the number to what is needed.
Grade: D
