Tories seek NDP action on crime talk

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This article was published 17/11/2023 (736 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Opposition PCs are keeping crime top of mind as Manitoba lawmakers prepare for a new legislative session.

“We heard the NDP talk about crime at the beginning of their (election) campaign and it is since tapered off,” Tory justice critic Wayne Balcaen told reporters during a media availability Friday.

“In government, they have so far been silent on the issue.”

Balcaen, a former police chief from Brandon, said the Opposition will not let government lose sight of its campaign promise to be “tough on crime.”

The Tories pointed to the recent stabbing at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Osborne Village that injured three people, and a double shooting in the West Alexander neighbourhood that sent a boy to hospital in stable condition and a killed a man, while calling for action on crime and justice from the NDP.

“We’re now 45 days since the election and we haven’t heard one thing,” Balcaen said.

MLAs will return to the chamber Nov. 21, when the 43rd session of the legislative assembly opens with the throne speech.

The NDP has promised to introduce an “unexplained wealth act” as part of its legislative agenda to target organized crime and illicit drugs. The party also pledged to implement recommendations on bail reform that were made by the National Police Federation and advocate for bail changes at the federal level.

The proposed unexplained wealth act must not divert cash and assets seized under the province’s criminal property forfeiture act to general revenues, Balcaen said Friday.

He also criticized the NDP’s tough-on-crime campaign commitments as vague and unachievable.

“PCs are looking for more than empty platitudes and virtue signaling — we’re looking for action.”

A day earlier, Premier Wab Kinew said his government has taken immediate steps to deliver on its public safety strategy, while working on longer-term plans to address crime and addictions, which includes a commitment to deploy 100 mental health workers to work alongside law enforcement.

“The impact of addictions is tearing families apart and the toxic drugs in our communities are breaking many of our communities apart and our government is already taking action,” Kinew said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca