July 20, 2010

MANITOBA ONLY PROVINCE TO SEE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME

MANITOBA ONLY PROVINCE TO SEE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME

NDP soft-on-crime strategy is taking Manitoba in the wrong direction: Goertzen

Our province needs a government that is ready, willing and able to get tough on crime and reverse the trend that places Manitoba dead last in reducing crime across the country, says Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Kelvin Goertzen.

Statistics Canada released an alarming report today that indicated Manitoba is the worst in Canada for violent crimes, homicide, robberies, and property crime.

“Manitoba is the only province where serious violent crime is on the rise, we have the highest rate of property crime and robberies, and Winnipeg leads the nation for being the most violent city in the country,” said Goertzen.

Manitoba also reported the highest homicide rate among provinces for the third year in a row and robberies increased by 25 percent, according to the report.

Goertzen said a Progressive Conservative government would get tough on violent crime and roll out a meaningful gang strategy that includes tracking their every move and reinstituting the gang database.

“We’ve seen a lot of useless advertising campaigns and meaningless strategies from this NDP government. They have no credibility when it comes to tackling crime and they are taking our province in the wrong direction,” said Goertzen.

Manitoba needs more police on the streets, more prosecutors to clear up the backlog in our courts, and increased jail capacity where drug-addicted criminals can undergo drug treatment. The Progressive Conservatives would also ensure court-ordered breaches are made public and stop the flow of scarce welfare dollars to criminals on the lam.