Debate over repeat offenders takes centre stage during question period
With urban mayors blaming a small number of repeat offenders for a disproportionate amount of crime in their cities, pressure is mounting on B.C.’s NDP government to act.
The debate is now centred on whether the province’s attorney general can provide guidance to Crown lawyers that would see fewer accused criminals released back onto the streets – something the opposition BC Liberals demanded of officials during question period Tuesday.
Liberal leader Kevin Falcon said more needed to be done to address what he claimed was "the worst explosion in random attacks and social chaos in the history of this province."
Over the weekend, a woman was violently attacked in broad daylight in downtown Vancouver, only for the accused to be let go the same day, despite police recommending he be held in custody.
According to “A Rapid Investigation Into Repeat Offending and Random Stranger Violence in British Columbia,” an expert report commissioned by the government, a federal law is leading to more offenders being released on bail. The report cited concerns from police that the Crown is reluctant to approve charges for those who breach bail conditions “unless in addition to a substantive charge, resulting in an emboldening effect.”
While none of the report’s 28 recommendations involve issuing a directive to prosecutors, that's what the Liberals believe could make a difference.
One of those pressuring the government Tuesday was Elenore Sturko, the legislature's newest MLA, who represents Surrey South and is a former police officer turned politician.
"If the NDP actually cared about the victims of prolific offenders, they would give prosecutors and police the tools to do their jobs, tools like being able to enforce release conditions," she said.
Attorney General Murray Rankin fired back that bail conditions are part of Canadians' Charter Rights, noting federal law C-75 directs courts to release offenders as soon as possible. It was enacted following concerns over how many people were ending up in jails.
"I intend to go next week to meet my federal counterpart, the Hon. David Lametti, minister of justice, bring the report to him, talk about concrete ways we can ensure that the Criminal Code and the bail provisions work in our province," Rankin told the house.
The opposition claims the attorney general can already direct Crown counsel to detain repeat offenders. The government isn't supposed to tell Crown lawyers what to do, yet it appears there may be a way for the province to issue a directive.
"There are a variety of tools, one of which the member referred to in terms of directives, that we will examine," Rankin said.
In a statement released earlier this month, Peter Juk, the head of the B.C. Prosecution Service, said lawyers are increasingly dealing with people who have complex mental health issues.
The report on repeat offenders – authored by Amanda Butler, PhD, and Doug Lepard, a former police officer – also noted the complexity of poverty, mental health issues and substance use, which they said should be dealt with separately from criminal issues.
The opposition agreed with that sentiment, but for now is pushing for change that keeps people who are violent and at high-risk of reoffending behind bars for longer.
"What's required is leadership," said Falcon. "And we deal with it number one by giving direction to Crown prosecutors to detain people that are unsafe and are a threat to people in the community."
The province said it's already working on three of the expert report's 28 recommendations, and that the rest are being reviewed. Those three recommendations include:
- bringing back a prolific offender management program that ran from 2008 until 2012, and which was shown to reduce repeat offending by as much as 40 per cent in the first year
- establishing a dedicated provincial committee to co-ordinate supports for people with complex health-care needs in the criminal justice system
- developing a pilot program based at the Prince George First Nations Justice Centre to better support Indigenous people who come into conflict with the law
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.