Pandora (and other streets) have a lot of victims – victims of government decisions that have taken place over the last few decades: cuts to the social safety net, a policy-induced housing shortage that drove up rents and prices far faster than wages went up, and plenty more. This of course happened across North America.
There are also predators on Pandora, preying on those victims: prolific repeat offenders who traffic people as well as harmful drugs, who violently attack people, and who intimidate and rob, among other things.
It’s a small minority who have embedded themselves among the street population who cause most of the harm. Some of the prolific repeat offenders had awful childhoods, some have untreated addictions and/or other mental illnesses. However, it’s not OK to leave them on the street causing harm.
I’ve long advocated for affordable housing, supportive housing, complex care housing, detox-treatment recovery pathways, and mental health care – and I will continue to do so as long as they are needed.
Another thing that is needed is a bail and pre-trial system that protects the victims on the streets, as well as other downtown residents and businesses. Leaving prolific repeat offenders on the street to continue to victimize people is not acceptable.
Bail reform is an ongoing process. The Federal government will be undertaking more this fall. I’ve written to our MP, Dr. Will Greaves, advocating for bail reform to address prolific repeat offenders. And of course the provincial government will need to invest in various facets of the justice system.
Below is my letter to Dr. Greaves, MP.
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Dr. Will Greaves, MP
Member of Parliament for Victoria
Dear Will,
It’s been great seeing you at many events around town. And many thanks for your quick start on priorities for Victoria and the region.
I wanted to raise with you the focus that the Federal Government seems to be putting on bail reform, and potential for a slight change to that focus.
First off, I appreciate the work the Federal Government has already done on this. Bill C-48 addresses serious repeat violent offending with firearms and other weapons, and intimate partner violence. This is needed and much appreciated. I also understand that bail system reform is a shared responsibility with the province, and as I have often stated, we likely need more investment in Crown Council, Judicial and remand capacity. I also appreciate the provincial REVOII initiative, which appears to be having success within its area of focus – repeat violent offenders – and the provincial government’s initial moves to restore addiction treatment and other mental health services.
What I understand from Victoria constituents, especially downtown, and from social service providers and police and other first responders, is that a small minority of people “on the street” are prolific repeat offenders – both violent and non-violent – and are responsible for a very large proportion of harm. They also take up considerable resources for the City and other levels of government, which could be – and badly need to be – deployed elsewhere. While the federal and provincial initial moves noted above address prolific repeat violent offenders, we need to also make changes to how the bail system deals with prolific repeat non-violent offenders: the revolving door undermines the broader public interest.
I expect you’ve spoken with Victoria constituents about their views on this, as I have. I have heard a great deal about “compassion fatigue” as it applies to homelessness, and addiction and other mental health challenges. However, constituent feelings about criminal behaviour go far beyond compassion fatigue. People are strongly and widely in support of getting prolific repeat offenders off the street, keeping them off the street, and stopping the revolving door. To be clear, this is not coming from a conservative “law-and-order” minority; this is what I’m hearing from people who identify as politically middle-of-the-road and as progressives (including people who work and volunteer in social services). I have told constituents that I will pass along these concerns to you, as our Federal representative.
I understand that the Federal Government will table a draft bill this fall that will bring “stricter bail conditions and sentencing for some crimes, particularly those involving organized crime, human trafficking, home invasion and car theft” as promised during the election and will “consider including additional reforms.” While these listed crimes are important, the focus on specific crimes needs to be one part of a larger reform that also addresses prolific repeat non-violent offenders more generally. I am optimistic that the “additional reforms” can accommodate this need.
I hope you will pass on to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, as well as to Cabinet and the Prime Minister, the need to have bail reform that addresses prolific repeat non-violent offenders, and not just for a select few offences.
Many thanks for your consideration of this Will.
And I look forward to seeing you around town.
Best regards,
Dave