Businesses in cities and high streets across the country say there is a “humanitarian crisis” in Canada’s communities to address the crime, addiction and social problems they say are hitting businesses and downtowns. We hope the federal government will act quickly.
Business groups say the problem has been on the rise in recent years, but has been significantly exacerbated by the pandemic.
Kate Fenske, president of the International Downtown Association of Canada (IDA Canada), which represents urban business districts across Canada, said Tuesday that “recidivist offenders are a significant driver of crime, and the current bail system is designed to reduce It’s not protecting businesses.”
“Every day in communities across Canada, we hear stories of crimes committed by individuals on bail or in violation of their bail conditions. This cannot continue.”
Bill C-48A law passed in December makes it harder for people accused of violent crimes to be granted bail. IDA Canada wants a systematic overhaul of the bail system in the hope of making it similarly difficult for repeat offenders to obtain bail on theft charges.
In a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Industry Development Canada said it is calling on the federal government, provinces, territories and municipalities to provide dedicated funding to tackle homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. said.
“It is imperative that governments at all levels work together to bring together stakeholders and implement solutions to address humanitarian crises in our communities,” Fenske said. Mr. Fenske is also the CEO of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, which promotes Winnipeg’s city centre.
He said governments need to “focus on developing support, resources and training programs for individuals with housing instability, addiction and mental health concerns.”
Kate Fenske, president of the International Downtown Association of Canada, called on the federal government to launch a “national systematic review of the bail system” and amend Bill C-48 to “address theft.” He said he was looking for it.
Punita McBrien, president of Edmonton’s Downtown Business Association, said the city’s mental health and addiction crisis has become even more pronounced after the pandemic.
“2021 and 2022 were the first years that companies sounded the alarm,” she said.
McBrien said business groups in Edmonton and other centers can identify problems that are hurting business, but don’t know how to fix them.
“We are not experts on these issues,” she said.
“What we’re asking the federal government to do is listen to our law enforcement colleagues state by state, city by city… We want to hear from all our partners on the ground that the current justice system… I’m hearing the voice of…[isn’t] It’s about making sure our justice system does its job. ”
McBrien said post-prison mental health care and social services support also needs to be improved, because that’s “where the system really starts to break down.”
