I don't imagine crime in Winnipeg is, on average, any worse than other major Canadian cities. Sure we have too many car thefts and too many murders. But, that is not the point.
There has been an incredible amount of attention to this issue in Winnipeg, and we've been saying loudly and clearly, we’ve had enough.
What we want, the average taxpayer, is our criminal justice system to dole out harsher penalties. One thing is certain: with the criminals behind bars, they cannot steal cars, rob gas bars or murder anyone. And maybe, stiffer sentences might act as deterrence.
Okay, okay. This post is not about the social infrastructure that some say provides the fertile feeding grounds for our criminals. I'll save that little nugget for another post.
This post is actually about our elected officials, Members of Parliament. It’s about accountability and partisan politics. It’s about the moronic, infantile political gamesmanship these people foist upon us.
The federal Conservatives based part of their election campaign partly upon law and order reform. They pledged to create a system that made penalties for crime more severe, and to create a system that viewed honest citizens and victims as the most important elements.
You see, we citizens and victims want our rights viewed as the primary consideration. Not as an afterthought.
In 2006 the feds attempted to pass this toughened bill through parliament. Trouble is the government is a minority government that requires opposition members to help pass the legislation. It became so watered down by federal liberals and the NDP it did not resemble the original legislation draft.
The federal Conservatives tried again recently.
Therein lies the rub. Manitoba's three Liberal MPs, Ray Simard (St. Boniface), Tina Keeper (Churchill) and Anita Neville (Winnipeg South Centre) voted against it. Again.
Neville said the bill was poor legislation because it stripped the judiciary of its sentencing powers and refused to support it. "It flew against the advice of many people in the justice system," said Neville, adding sentencing is often best left to judges after they've heard all the evidence in a case and not legislators.
"You have to leave the discretion to the judiciary."
She said her main concern with the bill was an escalating clause that would send criminals to prison for longer sentences with subsequent offences.
This Liberal MP continues to perplex and amaze me. That Neville is so out of touch with her constituency is staggeringly unbelievable.
You see, the entire point is to change the laws increasing jail sentences BECASE the justice system and the judges argue their hands are tied. Even if they want to hand out longer sentences they can not.
Now Neville says it’s up to the judiciary to determine what an appropriate sentence is.
What complete and utter horse@#$%. No, it is not. It is up to you and me. We need to tell our elected officials we DEMAND tougher penalties. We demand the justice system and the judiciary then respond accordingly by issuing sentences more apropos to the crime.
Neville has not considered what Winnipeggers and Manitobans want. She votes along party lines, even to the detriment of her constituents. When is enough enough?
Is this someone you want representing you? You can tell her to get her act together. Click here. Don’t expect a reply though. She has never responded to my letters. And I’m a constituent.
I had an interesting encounter yesterday afternoon while driving eastbound Grant Avenue. I'll call it pseudo-road rage.
