Last week I stood up in the B.C. legislature and shared the horrific story of a man in a wheelchair who was attacked and repeatedly stabbed in broad daylight in downtown Vancouver.
This vicious and unprovoked attack was by a known repeat offender with a lengthy history of violence —yet he was immediately released back into the community until a court hearing in July.
I asked the Minister of Public Safety when this government will put the rights of the public ahead of the rights of violent criminals to re-offend.
It was disheartening to witness a member of this NDP government dismiss the concerns of British Columbians by standing up to pat themselves on the back and pretend that everything is okay.
You can see the decline of public safety across B.C., as people increasingly fear for their safety while walking on their streets due to random violent attacks, and parents avoiding neighbourhood parks because of rampant open drug use.
The rise in violent crime by 37 per cent in B.C. is a direct consequence of NDP Premier David Eby’s soft-on-crime policies.
As Attorney General for five years, David Eby created a catch-and-release justice system that has continuously let repeat violent offenders back onto our streets.
Enough is enough. BC United has a real plan to put British Columbians’ right to safety ahead of the right of violent criminals to re-offend.
BC United will restore public safety by putting an immediate end to the NDP’s failed and reckless decriminalization of hard and dangerous drugs and a complete ban on drug use in parks, beaches, playgrounds, and public spaces.
We will aggressively fill 500 police vacancies across the province by accelerating investments in local police agencies and expanding police training operations and capacity.
Importantly, we will also restore accountability by pursuing consequences for all crimes. Not every sentence requires jail time, but all crimes should have consequences.
It’s time for a government that will prioritize the safety of British Columbians and restore order in our community.