Government Must Take Stronger Stance on Federal Crime Bill

(VICTORIA) — British Columbians need the government to take a stronger stand with the Harper government on downloaded costs associated with the federal omnibus crime bill.

“Frankly, our B.C. court and prison systems are already overstretched even before hundreds of millions in new costs from the federal omnibus crime bill,” said Opposition solicitor general critic Kathy Corrigan. “While the federal crime bill contains measures to make our streets safer, in B.C. it could have the opposite effect if it isn’t funded by the federal government.

“Instead of standing up to the federal government or fixing our courts, the government is obsessed with blowing cash on turning high-profile cases into televised media spectacles. This wasteful idea simply isn’t what British Columbia needs right now.”

On Wednesday, when questioned about the impact on B.C. of the federal bill, Solicitor General Shirley Bond issued an email saying she wants to “ensure that our federal partners understand our concerns about the fiscal impacts and the implementation challenges of the legislation.”

“This response from the government is too little, too late, given the enormous impact the bill will have on the province’s ability to keep British Columbians safe,” said Corrigan. “Already we see violence in our prisons as the ratio of prisoners to guards grow higher and higher. We’ve also seen a dramatic increase in the amount of delayed and cancelled trials in B.C., meaning dangerous criminals end up walking free. We have a serious shortage of resources, such as sheriffs, judges and other court supports.

“In the end, British Columbians want to know they are safe, and that criminals aren’t walking free due to trial delays and cancellations,” said Corrigan. “If the government doesn't stand up to the Harper government, then we will be pushed around like we are with the health transfer payments.”

Corrigan pointed to Premier Clark’s sad showing during the Canada Health Transfer discussions as yet another example where B.C. consistently takes a weaker position than the other provinces when it comes to the Harper government.

“It is irresponsible for the government to say on one hand they don’t have enough money to properly resource our courts and prisons, but on the other hand refuse to tell the federal government to fund their fair share.”

In September, the Solicitor General said she has “staff in both of my ministries going through the bill as we speak to look for implications.”

While the implementation of federal bill C-10 is expected to cost B.C. hundreds of millions of dollars, the government has so far refused to release any estimates.