Whereas the RCMP are overworked and understaffed in the Province of BC; And whereas many BC residents are frustrated with the low sanction sentences imposed by the Provincial Court criminal justice system; And whereas criminals may not choose the path to recovery as provided for by various provincial, federal, or First Nations government-created mental health programs, Indigenous court systems, reform programs, safe injection sites, methadone, or Opioid Agonist Treatment OAT clinics; And whereas many thefts and drug-related crimes are perpetrated by criminals who are well known to police and have multiple or long criminal records: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC and the BCs Attorney General to immediately begin working with the Government of Canada to address issues with Canadas and British Columbias justice system including the proposed imposition of weightier consequences and greater accountability for repeat offenders, thereby supporting the rights of all Canadians to live in safe communities.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General As part of the Provincial Governments Safer Communities Action Plan, announced November 20, 2022, ministry staff are undertaking work that includes launching new repeat violent offender co-ordinated response teams composed of police, dedicated prosecutors, and probation officers; expanding mental-health crisis response teams into more communities; and new direction from the Attorney General to prosecutors to implement a clear and understandable approach to bail for repeat violent offenders within the existing federal law. Our government is committed to continue working with our federal, provincial, and territorial partners to identify opportunities for collaboration on solutions to address repeat offending, which may include examining potential changes to federal legislation, as well as non-legislative solutions. In mid-October 2022, BCs Attorney General and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General met with federal, provincial, and territorial colleagues to discuss the issue of repeat and violent offenders. The federal government is now aware of the seriousness of this issue across Canada and has committed to working with us to urgently address these issues. These are complex problems that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and have served to highlight the need to provide a robust and sustained continuum of care for people experiencing challenges with mental illness andor addictions. Our government has been working to build a comprehensive system of mental health and addictions services to get people the help they need to break the cycle of offending, so that we can all live in safer communities. Senior criminal justice officials across the country are urgently examining the matter and are expected to report back to federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety with proposals in the near future.