Manitoba small businesses worry about crime, safety: survey By: Gabrielle Piché Posted: 6:05 PM CDT Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023

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This article was published 01/11/2023 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tina Driscoll employs a buddy system with her staff.

Pairs of two lock the gate at Dynasty Bathrooms on Logan Avenue. Employees also lock the door — customers ring a doorbell for assistance.

It comes after incidences of people running into the store and stealing, bricks being thrown through windows and nearby vehicles being rummaged through.

“That area’s always been a little concerning, but I’d say it’s worse now,” Driscoll said.

Dynasty Bathrooms is among more than half of businesses across the province to be impacted by crime either directly or indirectly.

A Canadian Federation for Independent Business report found Manitoba leading the western Canada pack, percentage-wise, when looking at businesses affected by crime.

Across western Canada, 45 per cent of small businesses have felt the impact. Nationally, the average is 28 per cent; Manitoba has hit 54 per cent.

Vandalism, break and enters, shoplifting, litter and public intoxication were among the top community safety challenges Manitoba businesses reported.

“Previously, our big fight was the pandemic,” said SeoRhin Yoo, the CFIB’s policy analyst for the Prairies and the north. “Post pandemic, we’re seeing that crime is unfortunately rising, especially in the west.”

“Post pandemic, we’re seeing that crime is unfortunately rising, especially in the west.”–SeoRhin Yoo

Repeated occurrences of crime affecting business prompted the national lobbyist to create its first-ever report on crime and safety in the west.

More than three-quarters of Manitoba businesses — 78 per cent — indicated they worried about their employees’ and customers’ safety.

The CFIB had 114 Manitoba business respondents for its survey, which it conducted in May. The organization unveiled its report Wednesday.

Manitoba small businesses led the way in worrying about crime and community safety — 45 per cent said they were stressed, the CFIB found.

British Columbia was close behind, with 44 per cent of respondents indicating the same thing.

Incident-based crime has also climbed, according to the CFIB’s report. Last year, police reported 10,694 crimes per 100,000 people in Manitoba, the report outlines.

In 2019, the number was 10,266. During both years, Manitoba surpassed Alberta and British Columbia by thousands of incidents.

Crime is higher in Manitoba’s rural areas than urban.

“During the pandemic, it was a very stressful time for a lot of business owners, seeing that their operations closed. With crime added on top of that, it’s just another cost added on,” Yoo said.

Businesses have been speaking out: Devil May Care Brewing faced a potential $1,500 bill due to vandalism in July; Tommy’s Pizzeria shells out up to $4,000 each time a window gets smashed.

Replacing a door during a break-in cost Imperial Auto Body Supply around $800, according to staff.

Changing a broken window — it was smashed by a rock on a different date — cost several hundred dollars more.

A company van was stolen during the break-in but was recovered within a few days, general manager Dylan Shirley said.

“There’s been no direct violence,” he said, noting people with mental health struggles have entered the shop several times.

He isn’t afraid. However, more mental health supports for Manitobans would be helpful, he said.

Shirley looked across the street at a derelict, boarded-up house.

“That could probably go,” he added, noting it has been linked to some problems in the neighbourhood.

Driscoll, his neighbour at Dynasty Bathrooms, echoed him with a call to clean up the area. She believes beautification, and perhaps more police presence, would reduce persistent crime.

The CFIB released its own wish list in its report asking government to address underlying societal issues of crime and safety, improve resources (such as funding) for small businesses, collaborate with stakeholders and develop a better approach to recidivism.

“We appreciate that (Manitoba’s new NDP government is) prioritizing issues of homelessness, mental health and addictions in their recent mandate letters,” Yoo said.

The organization hopes to see small businesses included in provincial government discussions, she continued.

“Small businesses are community members,” she said.

Economic Development Minister Jamie Moses was not available for an interview by print deadline.

“I am looking forward to meeting with Manitoba business leaders on how best to address their concerns regarding safety and property crime,” he wrote in a statement.

The provincial government will work to bring in a $300 rebate for security systems, Moses said.

Throughout western Canada, 62 per cent of small businesses are spending more on security; one-quarter are increasing staff safety training, the CFIB found.

Crime also affects labour shortages, Yoo stated. Businesses in areas workers deem unsafe often have to increase compensation and benefits to attract talent, she said.

Across Canada, the CFIB received responses from 2,809 business owners, leading to the recent report.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com