Budget 2017 must cut crime, not justice

It is evident by recent cuts to our public sector that the provincial government’s commitment to austerity measures will undoubtedly continue through the upcoming spring budget.

However, as the rise of violent crime and introduction of dangerous new drugs to our province risks tearing apart our families and communities, it remains clear that we cannot afford further cuts to justice and public safety initiatives within our province.

Appealing to relevant statistics about drug use and crime in our province brings only heartwrenching conclusions. Drug-related deaths within Newfoundland and Labrador increased 42 per cent from 2014 to 2015. Fentanyl, an extremely dangerous street drug, has been the subject of a recent public warning by the RCMP after the fatal opioid was spotted on the Burin Peninsula. Furthermore, this warning comes merely a month after a St. John’s drug bust seized over 250 fentanyl pills that were manufactured to appear like Oxycontin, an often abused prescription painkiller.

Moreover, we must recognize the obvious link to organized crime and drug-related violence that pervades with the presence of fentanyl. While overall crime rates in our province have been decreasing over the last decade, a 14 per cent increase in the violent crime severity index in 2015 shows that severe violence in St. John’s is on the rise. This index, created by Statistics Canada, attempts to measure the impact of violent crime on a community — including offences such as murder, assault, break and enter and armed robbery.

However, at the core of our justice system is our ability to rehabilitate convicted persons such that their reintegration into our society does not lead to repeat offences. Yet statistics recently released by the Newfoundland and Labrador government reveal that drugs and violence were responsible for more than 200 lockdowns at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary over the last three years. If we are failing to keep drugs and violence outside of our penitentiaries, we must ask ourselves whether we can rely on these facilities to successfully rehabilitate offenders before they are released back onto our streets.

It is true that under present economic conditions our provincial government has no choice but to make tough decisions and reduce provincial spending. Nonetheless, each year that passes without renewed investment in public safety infrastructure, the socioeconomic costs to our communities will continue to rise. Furthermore, we must not ignore the need for meaningful investments in mental health and addiction services, including the need for a new Waterford Hospital.

As a province, we must find the balance between fiscal restraint and selecting policy and investment strategies that will ensure the strength and safety of our communities.

Devin Drover, president Waterford Valley PC District Association

St. John’s