Addressing crime in Notre Dame

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/08/2022 (272 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg is experiencing a significant increase in violent crime.

I recently took part in a community meeting with West End residents and councillor Cindy Gilroy at Freedom International Church to hear community concerns. They have good reason to raise this issue. Violent crime increased in 2021, and preliminary data from the Winnipeg Police Service’s Crime Map suggest there has been a nearly 20 per cent increase in violent crime in Winnipeg over the last twelve months. That same source showed that property crime has also begun to increase over last year.

While there are no easy answers to address violent crime, we know there are several things that must be done to address this problem. One of the big drivers of crime is mental health and addiction, and we have long called for much greater resources for mental health and harm reduction and the focused attention of government to address addiction. We know that existing initiatives are not doing near enough as the harm of drug addiction has exploded over the last five years. We want to see a lot more done to address the rising cost of addiction and its impact on crime in Winnipeg.

We also know that poverty has an impact on the rate of crime. While the issue is complex, we know that crime is less likely to happen when people have their basic needs met. That’s why we have long called for Manitoba to adopt a living wage. No one who works full-time should have to live in poverty. Unfortunately, even with recent announcements, by this fall, Manitoba will still have the second-lowest minimum wage in the country. We feel this is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed.

We also know that the cost of housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Unstable housing leaves people more likely to be in conflict and vulnerable to violent crime. Unfortunately, the PC government has reduced its stock of social housing. They have sold off hundreds of apartment units. That’s not the right approach. It’s getting harder and harder for people to find a place to live that is affordable and we want to see a greater investment in social housing.

With Winnipeg experiencing a significant increase in violent crime, a new approach is needed. A follow up meeting regarding this issue will be happening in September at Freedom International Church and everyone is welcome. If you have ideas about how to make our community better, you can reach me at Malaya.marcelino@yourmanitoba.ca or by phone at 204-788-0800.

Malaya Marcelino
Notre Dame constituency report

Malaya Marcelino is the NDP MLA for Notre Dame.

   Read full biography