Dhaliwal calls on federal government to support community led crime reduction efforts

For Immediate Release

(OTTAWA) Sukh Dhaliwal, MP for Newton-North Delta, in a speech to the House Commons today, called on the Conservative Government to support community led crime reduction efforts.

“This Conservative Government has been playing politics with the issue of crime and crime prevention while refusing to work with opposition parties to fast track important justice legislation. This is an issue for which Canadians expect a serious and considered dialogue from their elected representatives that actually tackles the root causes of crime. The City of Surrey recently released its own comprehensive Crime Reduction Strategy and it embraces an approach that seeks to incorporate all the key stakeholders and create one, unified, comprehensive plan,” said Dhaliwal.
The Liberal plan calls for the support and swift passage of bills: C-9 (Conditional Sentencing); C-18 (DNA Identification); C-19 (Street Racing); C-22 (Age of Consent); C-23 (Criminal Procedure); C-26 (Pay Day Loans) and C-35 (Reverse Onus in Bail Hearings). Five of these bills originated with the previous Liberal government: C-9, C-18, C-19, C-23 and C-26. While the Liberal Opposition has managed to overcome the Conservative obstructionist techniques and push forward some of these bills, too many of them have not moved forward because the Conservatives refuse to do the right thing for communities.

In addition, the Liberal Opposition has committed to giving the RCMP an extra $200 million for an extra 400 officers as part of a new rapid enforcement team, that will be mandated to provide immediate help to local police departments to combat guns and gang activity, as well as organized crime and drug trafficking. The Conservatives promised 2,500 more police in our cities - then didn’t do it.

“Cities like Surrey are calling for leadership from the Government of Canada to work with them in achieving their goals. Without a collaborative effort involving all three levels of Government this is going to be much more difficult and would be irresponsible. The Government of Canada must embrace the Surrey approach that works to prevent and deter crime; apprehend and prosecute offenders; rehabilitate and reintegrate; and address the perception and reality of crime,” concluded Dhaliwal.

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Media contact:
Kyle Harrietha
613-266-9859
Dhalis7@parl.gc.ca