File Photo (Image Credit: Contributed / Kennell Shoes)

By Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: NDP’s public safety crisis failing British Columbians

Mar 7, 2024 | 6:30 PM

ONE OF THE CORE FUNCTIONS of our provincial government is the responsibility to look after British Columbians, ensuring people have access to health care, education and safe communities.

But right now, people do not feel safe in their communities. Over the last few years, we’ve noticed rising rates of crime and street disorder here in Kamloops. This increase is echoed throughout B.C., where violent repeat offenders have been causing chaos, resulting in real harm to people and the vandalism of small businesses.

During his five years as attorney general, now-Premier David Eby created a catch-and-release justice system that’s wreaking havoc in communities throughout the province. Violent criminals with histories of hundreds of negative interactions with police are arrested for serious crimes and often released the same day to continue causing harm.

Recently, a spree of smash-and-grab incidents in downtown Kamloops created chaos for over a dozen businesses which have been left to deal with shattered windows and frequent break-ins. Small businesses face nearly constant theft, vandalism, and threats — with little actual support from David Eby’s NDP government.

David Eby and the NDP announced their small businesses support program over seven months ago, but they can’t even manage to give money away to people who need it. Out of the $10.5 million set aside for the fund, only $100,000 has been distributed to date.

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While businesses struggle to afford the repairs needed as a result of crime, we have also seen the devastating human cost of our public safety crisis. No amount of grant money from the NDP can make up for the loss of a family member killed in a random attack or make someone feel safe again after a horrific incident.

Over the past few days, we have learned more about a truly horrible situation that unfolded in Kelowna. A convicted repeat sex offender, Taylor Dueck, was recently released into the community without a public warning. At no point was anyone made aware of the predator’s criminal record, the condition that he was to have one-on-one supervision at all times, or that he was not to be around children.

But somehow, this convicted high-risk sex offender was brought to an equestrian centre where children were arriving for after-school lessons. The government-employed supervisor assigned to monitor him sat in the car outside the centre for two-and-a-half hours, during which time Dueck victimized an 11-year-old girl in the bathroom.

It’s absolutely horrifying and completely unacceptable — a systemic failure of the highest level — that a convicted child-sex offender was allowed to participate in riding lessons at a place where children were present, and that the person assigned to monitor him simply did not do their job.

From the fact that there was no warning to the community about this predator, to the system that allowed Dueck to be at the equestrian centre in the first place, and the individuals who let this happen, there was a complete breakdown that failed this little girl — and government must be held accountable.

Sadly, a similar situation also unfolded in Richmond recently where a pedophile, who uses Snapchat to lure underage children, was arrested 3 times and released on bail 3 times — all within 2 weeks. He’s a monster, who continues to be a threat to children, due to David Eby’s catch and release justice system. British Columbians have had enough.

Surely, everyone agrees we have a responsibility to keep our children safe. And people, of all ages, deserve to feel safe in their communities. The erosion of public safety over the past seven years is shameful, and this NDP government should be doing everything in their power to change course. It’s time to start prioritizing the rights of British Columbians to be safe in their communities over the rights or repeat offenders.

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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.