PORT MOODY-WESTWOOD-POCO
MARK IRELAND, NDP
Recent federal governments have downloaded more responsibilities onto municipalities, without a matching increase in funding. The president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities said, "Nothing has done more damage to our communities It may make federal and provincial balance sheets look better, but only by pushing their deficits into local streets." There are obvious consequences to a deficit in policing. The NDP thinks it is time to get smart on crime and I am confident that an increased share in police funding will be part of that.
KEVIN KIM,GREEN PARTY
It is fantastic that overall crime rates seem to be decreasing. Nevertheless, we cannot underestimate the severity of the issue. To help reduce under-reported crime and compensate for low police-to-population ratio, it is important that we share the costs of the RCMP. In appreciation of their efforts and to help ease financial burden, the federal government should pick up 30% of RCMP policing costs.
STEWART MCGILLIVRAY,LIBERAL
When they were running for office, Stephen Harper and the Conservatives promised to hire 2,500 new police officers to protect our communities from gang violence and gun crime. Five years later that promise still stands broken and gang crime has exploded across B.C. A Liberal government will take a more responsible approach to making our communities safer, cracking down on organized crime, reducing crime rates and protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. This will include engaging municipal governments in B.C. regarding the rate of RCMP policing costs.
JAMES MOORE, CONSERVATIVE
Whether the formula is 90/10 or 70/30, there is still only one taxpayer and the bill will have to be paid regardless of formula. We need more police officers in our community and we need tougher sentences for those committing crimes, particularly violent crimes. When we formed government, we invested $400 million to recruit 2,500 local police officers, hired additional prosecutors, invested in more RCMP training and increased the number of RCMP officers across Canada by 1,000. As a result, the RCMP reported that 2009 was the most successful recruitment year in its history. We're getting the job done.
NEW WESTMINSTER-COQUITLAM
DIANA DILWORTH, CONSERVATIVE
The Conservative Party has been extremely straightforward on the issue of crime prevention: we understand that in order to feel safe communities must have tough laws and sufficient police resources to enforce those laws. As a Port Moody councillor, I understand how expensive it is to provide adequate policing services. However, I cannot commit to fighting for such a split at this point, but I can guarantee that I will always fight to ensure our community is safe.
FIN DONNELLY, NDP
Federal funding for local officers is inadequate. Coquitlam has one of the lowest police to population ratios in the province at 112:100,000. The federal government must deliver on their 2006 commitment to fund 2,500 new RCMP officers and sit down with municipalities to completely review our community policing needs.
REBECCA HELPS, GREEN PARTY
I am in support of the RCMP having the necessary resources and tools to tackle the problems our communities face. I am in support of the government providing more funding to the RCMP, specifically to give more training to new recruits. Our policing costs would be dramatically reduced if we legalize, regulate and tax marijuana. Before we consider increasing funding we need to first consider where we are spending it unwisely and how we can save. In 2008, according to the Treasury Board, Canada spent $61.3 million targeting illicit drugs, with a majority of that money going to law enforcement.
KENBECKLEE,LIBERAL
The federal government needs to seriously consider how the contract policing agreements with the RCMP and municipalities are working. Local detachments are facing increasing pressures on enforcing senior government issues. Police are being called upon to do an ever-growing list of tasks with the same - or shrinking - resources. Municipal budgets should not be crumbling under the weight of policing costs. I want to find a balance that makes better sense for both partners because front-line policing is critical to improving public safety.
