On the heels of recent meetings between North Battleford city officials and provincial ministers, the issue of crime has been brought up during Question Period in the legislature.
The issue was raised Tuesday in a series of questions from NDP critic John Nilson posed to provincial MINISTER OF CORRECTIONS AND POLICING Christine Tell.
The exchange was short on specifics but long in finger pointing. Nilson was critical of the government for not doing enough right now on the crime issue in North Battleford.
Tell, on the other hand, pointed to her government adding 120 police officers around the province and other efforts. She also roasted the previous NDP government, claiming they did nothing when in office.
Here is the published Hansard account of the entire exchange in question period from Tuesday afternoon, starting from the moment that Speaker Dan D'Autremont recognized Nilson.
Mr. Nilson: - Mr. Speaker, the community of North Battleford has concerns about crime. The issue has generated national media attention and over 1,000 concerned citizens have joined a local Facebook group to speak out about this.
We know that the North Battleford mayor and city manager requested three things when they met with the minister of policing. The community has asked for more RCMP officers, more community service officers and more resources for the HUB initiative.
We appreciate that the government met with the representatives of North Battleford, but we haven't heard specific commitments to address this very immediate and serious problem. To the minister of policing: is there an action plan to follow up on the three specific requests from North Battleford?
The Speaker: - I recognize the Minister of Corrections and Policing.
Hon. Ms. Tell: - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of our growth agenda, this government is committed to safety in our communities. Speaking specifically about North Battleford, Mr. Speaker, we met with the mayor and city manager and the MLA for North Battleford, the minister of justice and myself. We are trying to get together an analysis of really what's happening in this community.
But I'm going to speak briefly about some of the things that this government has done in relation to crime prevention. 2007, our election promise of 120 additional police officers across the province. And I'm just going to speak, you know, Mr. Speaker, and I'll speak later about this, about what the NDP failed to do in relation to hiring and making a promise and failing to hire the police officers necessary. I'm going to speak about the COR and HUB that's coming out of Prince Albert that is being replicated in communities like North Battleford.
Mr. Speaker, we need some time to get this together. The community is working with us, and we will continue with this progress. Thank you.
The Speaker: - I recognize the member for Regina Lakeview.
Mr. Nilson: - Mr. Speaker, the minister heard this exact plea back in May. And at that time she told the community, "We would encourage the committee to put a business case together and explain their needs."
The crime reports for this community fill the local paper. The RCMP officers responded to a hundred calls on the last reported weekend alone. There are more victims of crime in that city every day. I would consider this not a matter for business case development. I would think this is a case where the government should take quick, decisive action to support the community and reduce crime.
To the minister of policing: will she consider the high incidents of reported crime to be the most compelling business case and step in to support North Battleford's community safety efforts right now?
The Speaker: - I recognize the Minister of Corrections and Policing.
Hon. Ms. Tell: - Mr. Speaker, our efforts to reduce crime and ensure community safety are working. We have the HUB program coming out of North Battleford. It's only been in place for a very short period of time, Mr. Speaker. 2012, the crime rate was down by seven per cent and the severity of crime was down by four per cent in Saskatchewan compared to 2011, Mr. Speaker.
We acknowledge that the crime rates in the province are too high and we are working diligently to try and reduce them, Mr. Speaker. Let's talk about the promise. And here the members opposite talk about hiring more police officers. Mr. Speaker, we promised 120. We delivered 120. They promised 120, Mr. Speaker. They delivered nothing, Mr. Speaker. So again promise made, promise kept. I promised and we're working towards helping the community of North Battleford. We will continue with this progress and working with the community, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
(It was at this point during the exchange that Nilson quoted comments made by North Battleford city councillor Ryan Bater. Bater made the comments at the Nov. 12 council meeting in response to recent meetings held by City Manager Jim Toye and Mayor Ian Hamilton with Minister Tell and with Justice Minister Gordon Wyant.)
The Speaker: - I recognize the member for Regina Lakeview.
Mr. Nilson: - Mr. Speaker, what's clear is that the community and the police are doing their part. The community needs this government to allocate resources they've asked for as quickly as possible. They need to get to some of the grassroots of this situation because they need to address crime and prevent crime by addressing grassroots.
Mr. Speaker, here's what Councillor (Ryan) Bater from North Battleford says:
"So if the provincial minister is suggesting that we have to look at a long term strategy, I would suggest back that all those areas are provincial responsibilities, with social services, education, health - something we need to keep pressing on."
Councillor Bater is right. The provincial government has a lot of responsibility on these important issues in order to help prevent crime from happening in the first place. To the minister of policing: will the province's response to crime in North Battleford include changes to social services, education and health care, and will they contact the federal government to make sure that they are part of this solution as well?
The Speaker: - I recognize the Minister of Corrections and Policing.
Hon. Ms. Tell: - Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm going to mention to the member opposite, if he isn't aware of the fact, that we have a child and family committee that incorporates policing, justice, education, social services, and health, Mr. Speaker. We are working to try and address some of these children and families that are at risk, Mr. Speaker. We understand the components. We understand the necessity for looking into these particular issues and working together as a government.
Now let's just talk about what the NDP did. From 1996 to 2006, Mr. Speaker, our national crime rate dropped by 11 per cent. During that same time period, crime in Saskatchewan increased by 17 per cent. We'll take no lessons from the members opposite, Mr. Speaker. Crime was increasing at the time that they were in power and they did virtually nothing. Thank you.
