File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: NDP not doing enough to keep the public safe

Apr 27, 2023 | 10:40 AM

KAMLOOPS IS JUST ONE of a number of B.C. communities trying to bring in some crucial safeguards after Premier David Eby’s decriminalization experiment was launched without the proper guardrails to keep people safe. But the city’s efforts are being thwarted as the province, through the Interior Health Authority, puts up delays and roadblocks. Incredibly, the NDP is basically asking municipalities to ‘wait and see’ how decriminalization plays out — without any restrictions — for the next six months.

Here’s how it’s playing out so far. Last week, a Nanaimo mother raised the alarm after her 5-year old daughter found a packet containing fentanyl and other drugs on the grounds of her elementary school. Only days later, drug paraphernalia was found on the grounds of the same elementary school.

This should be extremely concerning. School grounds should be safe spaces where kids and families can play without fearing for their health and safety. The same goes for other public places like parks and beaches, where substances like alcohol and nicotine are completely prohibited.

I applaud Kamloops councillor Katie Neustaeter’s motion to restrict drug consumption in public parks, and similar measures proposed by other municipalities including Kelowna, Sicamous, Penticton and Campbell River. No one can blame local officials for trying to put protective measures in place, given that Premier David Eby has refused to implement a provincial ban on consumption in public places, thus demonstrating no leadership on this issue.

The fact is, Eby’s NDP government was supposed to put proper protections — such as treatment supports, training for front-line police officers, education, and public safety initiatives — in place concurrent with the adoption of decriminalization. That was part of the agreement between the province and the federal government, but the NDP has failed to do this, exposing our communities to the dangers of uncontrolled consumption in public areas.

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

14h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

Dec 13, 2024

Communities in every corner of the province also continue to be frustrated with the NDP’s soft-on-crime policies that have allowed crime to spiral out of control. Prolific offenders continue their crime sprees with little to no consequences. The latest data shows that under David Eby and the NDP, when someone commits a violent crime while on bail, the provincial prosecution is only seeking detention in 50 per cent of cases — and when a violent person accused of a crime re-offends, they are held in custody less than a quarter of the time. The bail data also clearly shows that the weak NDP directive on bail policy last fall made no difference in the actual bail hearings — once again, demonstrating their empty announcements and lack of results.

As the public safety situation throughout B.C. gets worse, not better, small businesses are also suffering as they contend with thefts and the high costs of constantly repairing broken windows and cleaning up graffiti, human waste and other property damage. This week, I introduced a private member’s bill intended to drive action by the NDP government to flow financial relief to hardest-hit small businesses who are grappling with the cost of repairs and security upgrades. This bill is built upon the proposal advanced by the Business Improvement Areas of B.C., who would deploy funds based on set criteria such as police file reports, repair receipts and evidence of insurance deductible payment. It wouldn’t be the ‘be all and end all’ solution, but it would be something to help struggling small businesses caught in the crossfire of crime, chaos and social disorder brought on by policy choices of the NDP government.

To sum up, Premier David Eby and the NDP simply aren’t doing their jobs. Shame on them for putting innocent people’s safety at risk, day after day.

——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.