Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: NDP must do more to keep our communities safe

Apr 14, 2022 | 3:21 PM

EVERYONE DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE in their community, but the reality is that an increasing number of people in Kamloops no longer feel that way. Random assaults and street violence have gotten so bad that the downtown McDonald’s has closed its doors permanently, with the owner saying, “it’s for the safety and the well-being of our people that we needed to make a change — and McDonald’s Canada saw that too.”

This isn’t just one small business owner’s opinion or one isolated incident. A national chain has given up on this location in the face of incessant crime in our city, increasingly on the part of prolific offenders.

British Columbians have serious concerns about the revolving door of repeat offenders being released, re-offending and being released again. The cycle just repeats itself over and over here in Kamloops and in other communities across the province. In recent weeks, my Official Opposition colleagues and I have highlighted a variety of violent assaults and random attacks in communities like Kamloops, Kelowna, Keremeos, Williams Lake, Cranbrook, Terrace, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria.

So where’s B.C. Attorney General David Eby in the midst of this ever-worsening crisis in our communities? What is his response as more and more municipalities beg him to do more about prolific offenders?

While Eby appears to be aware of the issues communities are facing, he doesn’t seem to be using the tools at his own disposal that could help the situation. The Attorney General can issue directives to Crown counsel, providing them with the guidance to pursue charges against some of these individuals.

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Eby has also acknowledged that complex care housing could also help to address some of the core issues that some prolific offenders face including mental health issues, addictions and homelessness. The only problem is that the NDP government has been slow to act on its promises to create these facilities in the communities that desperately need them.

Kamloops is one of those communities. A month ago, the Attorney General along with Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson held an event with local homelessness advocates, which led many to believe that details on complex care were imminent. This event turned out to be nothing more than a rehash of the NDP’s recent budget. They continue to promise that news is coming soon, but despite promises made, there are no firm timelines as to when complex care will actually be available in Kamloops, nor does anyone in our community have any idea what it will look like.

Meanwhile, the challenges will continue to get worse with each passing day, impacting everyone — especially the vulnerable members of our community who require access to these specialized supports now. The BC Liberals have been calling for real, 24/7 on-site supports for years and the NDP needs to make them a reality. The Attorney General needs to act. It is his job to maintain the confidence of the public in the administration of justice — when does he plan to start doing that?

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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.