SOUND OFF: British Columbians still waiting for action on prolific offenders

May 5, 2022 | 11:13 AM

WE FINALLY SAW THE LIGHTBULBS GO OFF THIS WEEK, as Attorney General David Eby admitted in question period that the current system to deal with repeat offenders is not working.

Week after week, the official opposition has been saying just this, as we continue to raise story after story of prolific offenders terrorizing residents and business owners in communities across B.C.

My riding of Cariboo-Chilcotin is not immune. In the past week alone in 100 Mile House, we have seen an arsonist target the Parkview Apartments, sending residents scrambling to safety at 3:00 a.m.; an armed robbery take place at the A&W, terrifying employees and patrons; and a violent stabbing on Birch Avenue that has shaken the entire community. Williams Lake is also seeing its share of repeat offenders who are arrested for their crimes but quickly released, only to commit further offences.

The crimes are often shocking and the frustration in our communities very real — but why has it taken the NDP government so long to see the light? I wrote to Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth about this in February 2021, copying the premier and the attorney general. This followed similar concerns brought to the government by Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb.

I also raised the issue of prolific offenders in the legislature in both June and November of 2021, through two separate private member’s statements. Some of my colleagues wrote letters and brought the government’s attention to their communities’ concerns over the past year as well.

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At the end of March, a delegation from Terrace came all the way to the legislature to demand action from the government on this issue. And over the past month or so, the opposition has been hammering the government with examples of the increasingly violent and brazen incidents we’re seeing across the province, with seemingly no consequence.

Now, after more than a year of letters, questions and pleas for the NDP government to do something, the attorney general is finally acknowledging there is a problem and has said some sort of “creative” plan to deal with it will be announced soon. It’s about time — municipalities and citizens have waited long enough.

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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.

by Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson

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SOUND OFF: British Columbians still waiting for action on prolific offenders

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