Sometimes There is Good News - Harper Promises to Get Tougher on Criminals.

The splashy headline aside, the news that Harper wants to pass laws making it more difficult for liberal judges to go easy on multiple offenders is good news.  What some Canadians don't realize though is that he can only do these types of things IF he gets a majority government.  As a minority government leader he has been unable to introduce law changing bills because without a majority the Liberals veto every effort.  Without a majority he must cater to those in opposition that don't want tougher penalties for criminals.  That said, not all Liberals want to veto laws that punish offenders, its just their job as opposition.  That is why in Canada when there is a minority government, nothing gets done, we don't move forward, we only tread water. 

Harper:

"Our Government has made standing up for victims of crime a priority," Harper said. "A re-elected Conservative Government will build on our accomplishments in this critically important area to ensure all Canadians feel safer in their communities."

The good news though is that someone in power is making a promise to get tough on criminals.  That someone is willing to stand up for victims and pass laws that will force judges to impose stiffer sentences.  The struggle now for every citizen in Canada concerned about the level of Crime is to keep the pressure on our leaders to ensure that they follow through with their promises by writing emails, letters etc.  Some promises cannot be allowed to be broken.

Schoenborn is an Example of A Justice System Failing Society.

Allan Schoenborn's day pass fiasco is just another example of how the Canadian justice system is failing to protect it's citizens.  A psychotic killer of children should never see the light of day, even if accompanied by a guard, for any reason.  This man is already living better than he did when he was free, living in Merritt BC in an old trailer.  Why should any tax payer pay for him to go to the local gym, pool, or go out for a coffee.  Since we are a one income family on a tight budget I can't afford to give my family these luxuries so why should Schoenborn get free access to Rec Centers where children are present?

He is obviously a disturbed man who never should have had access to his children but the courts allowed it.  What kind of country do we live in where children are not protected but their murders get to live in the lap of luxury?  What's next day passes for Clifford Olson?  What about the children's mother, what about her sanity and safety?

Whichever politician is going to get tougher on crime and rework the system to protect the citizens of this country gets my vote.  One question, is there any politician up for the challenge?

The Most Dangerous Cities in Canada are in Western Canada.

MacLean's published the latest results on a study that found Saskatoon is the most dangerous city to live in Canada.  Saskatoon, are you kidding me?  I was surprised to find that the top 3 most dangerous cities in Canada are located on the Prairies, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Regina.  This boggles my mind. 

When I really start to think about it though it does make sense.  In recent years Saskatchewan has been attracting more people.  The province with the long running joke, "whoever is last out of Saskatchewan turn out the lights," is now the province many are moving to for work and a lower cost of living.  The problem though is that when people move into an area, criminals start moving in too.  The government is a reactionary force and doesn't allocate funds or resources until an issue has gotten out of control and made headlines. 

I can understand why the Prairie Provinces may have temporary under funding that has to be addressed now, but what about BC, it's had major issues with crime since I can remember.  Why is law enforcement so underfunded in BC still?  Of the top 25 most dangerous cities, 12 are in BC.

FACTS:

Of the top 10 most dangerous cities in Canada 90% are in Western Canada.

Of the top 25 most dangerous cities 76% are in Western Canada.

Of the top 25 most dangerous cities 48% are in BC.

Of the top 20 there are 15 Western Canadian cities listed and only 2 from Ontario and 1 from Quebec. 

In fact, Montreal is number 24 and Toronto is number 29.  I think the real policy issue for Western Canadians this election should be crime and a more fair distribution of funds for law enforcement into the West. 

Questions to ask the MPs of your riding?

Why are the most dangerous cities in the West?
Why are funds not distributed evenly for regional law enforcement?
What do they plan to do to ensure Western Canada gets more Policing?

What else can we do to help solve the crime problem in Western Canada?

Canada needs Tougher Laws When it Comes to sites like Craigslist

Ontario and Manitoba have asked Craigslist CEO, Jim Buckmaster, to stop enabling sex traffickers to make money by not allowing sex trade ads to be run.  According to the Calgary Herald Craigslist has stopped the ads south of the border but not in Canada and does not plan to. 

In my search for a family pet I discovered that there are no ads allowed to sell an animal as a pet.  Craigslist has put the rights of animals ahead of profits to help stop puppy mills and puppy brokers from making quick cash.  Why don't women and children who find themselves forces into the sex trade not given the same consideration? 

Are women and children not as valuable to the world as animals are?  Does the CEO value animals stuck in puppy mills more that those who are forced into a life of servitude?  Most children and women do not choose a life in a brothel.  Until the CEO of Craigslist starts to value human life as not something to buy and sell then I am boycotting the site, I encourage others to as well.

If you agree and want to boycott Craigslist until they remove sex trade ads please leave a comment and pass this post along to friends.  Together we can make a difference.

Vancouver Sun Article
Vancouver Sun Article re Sex Trafficing in Canada
Sex Trafficking - Modern Day Slavery in Canada - lots of information on how women and children are forced into the sex trade and how immigrants are used as slave labour. 
Canada an International Embarassment -

Crime Costs Canadian Tax Payers Too Much Money

I want to know from the Political candidates what they are going to do about the cost of crime in Canada. Millions of dollars are being spent on prosecuting criminals and our society is only getting more violent. The Robert Pikton`s trial cost over $100 million and the BC Rail trial is at over $17 million.   Our tax dollars are wasted everyday with continuances and appeals with the result in most cases being a slap on the wrist or an acquittal.  Has the pendulum swung too far to the left? 

Our justice system is based on precedents and interpretations of laws by judges.  It has taken on a life of its own where the rights of the accused are valued more then the rights of the victims or public safety.  The hands of the police force are so tied that it makes their jobs to keep the public safe harder and harder every day. 

Canada`s justice system needs some accountablity.  Canadian Judges need to be accountable to the public they are suppose to protect.  Laws need to be written with consquences that are harsh and will deter criminals or ensure they will be seperated from the public better.  However, can it be done?  Is there anyway for our society to call for stiffer penalities? 

International Centre for Criminal Law Reform

Criminal Justice Reform BC Government

RCMP are using Technology to Communicate Location of Crimes with Citizens

This is a real cool tool if you want to know how safe, or unsafe, your community is.  Victoria is the latest of 6 communities to use the crime reports site to help inform citizens of where crime is happening.  So how can you use this tool to help stop crime in your community?

First it will help you find a safe community to live in.

Second it will help you have a more realistic vision about the crime in your neighbourhood.  One of the side effects of global communications is we sometimes believe there is more crime then their actually is near us.

Third it can help citizens know where to keep an eye open, lobby for a street light or security camera.

Can knowing where crime happens make a difference in how you live your life or help to put an end to crime?

Call and ask your local RCMP / Police department to get this tool for your community and then use it to help move crime out of your neighbourhood.

What Can WE DO to End Crime in our Communities?

There have been a flood of found missing children who were locked away and abused for years.  These stories horrify us and demand our attention, yet we do nothing because we feel powerless to do anything to stop it.   We believe someone else will do something, that is someone else's problem, or it makes a good headline but beyond that we really don't care because we are not directly effected.

We see homeless people on the street and believe that somehow they deserve to be there.  They are criminals, drug addicts, or choose to be there.  We throw them a bit of change and feel we've done our part.  They make us uncomfortable so we avoid them, look away, and do our best to avoid them.  We tell ourselves that their are government programs to help them and that its not our problem.

We don't feel safe in our neighbourhoods, our kids are corralled in our yards, we have alarms and more locks then when we were kids.  We fear home break ins and know that thefts are common place.  We want the police to get crime under control but we don't want to get involved.  Even worse we buy stuff at discounted prices from sites like Craigslist or ebay and pat ourselves on the back for saving money, not acknowledging that we are perpetrating the reward of crime. 

What can we do to help make this world a better place?

Clean up our neighbourhood graffiti
Clean up litter and our yards
Write letters to our political leaders asking for tougher laws
Buy fair trade products
Watch social documentaries to educate yourself
Check out non profit websites, send them an email to ask what you can do to help
Buy a homeless person lunch
Smile more
Volunteer
Help a neighbour
Recycle

Here are some sites to get started on learning more about what you can do to help change the world for the better.

Not For Sale - Abolish Child Slavery
Crime prevention
Human Trafficking
Against Crime & Drugs

Do you know of some non profit organizations that are committed to making the world a better place.  What things do you do to help make the world a better place?