Source: The Voice Online (www.voiceonline.com)
New Democrat Public Safety and Solicitor General Critic Jagrup Brar says gang violence in the Lower Mainland has become a very serious public safety issue and it is time that the Campbell government took it seriously and took leadership on the issue.
“Everywhere that I travel in my constituency, and throughout the Lower Mainland, the number one issue I am approached with is concern over gang violence,” said Brar, the MLA for Surrey-Panorama Ridge. “In the past 10 years there have been over 100 murders of young Indo-Canadians and three in the first two weeks of 2006 alone. While the community response has been tremendous, the Campbell government has done little to tackle the public safety issue.”
The statistics show quite clearly that the BC Liberals have mismanaged the issue, managing only to have a Gang Violence Task Force in place for less than two years. Almost one third of Vancouver’s homicides involve Indo-Canadian men, kidnappings involving Indo-Canadian gangs have doubled since 1999, the homicide rate in Surrey alone has doubled over the past year from 11 to 22, and the number of gangs doubled between 2003 and 2005.
“The community has looked to the Campbell government for leadership, practical solutions, and measurable actions to suppress or eliminate gang violence but haven’t gotten anything,” Brar said. “There must be community consultation and involvement of community leaders and the families of victims. The community has told me that the BC Liberal government has failed them.”
Brar said many Indo-Canadian and community groups, and important community stakeholders have stepped up to develop, and deliver, programs for youth with a goal to save them from street gangs. He also says that police are doing what they can but it is time government assumed its role in the issue.
“Though committing some money, the Campbell government has failed to develop a vision around issues of gang violence, and today I am calling on Solicitor General John Les and Premier Gordon Campbell to take a serious, measured look at the public safety issue and produce some tangible evidence that this government will address the issue. Our community deserves nothing less,” said Brar.
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