The crime issue is back in the news after Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced plans yesterday to change the Young Offenders Act. Among other things, the changes would have the effect of being able to lock up a 14-year-old for life.
Harper has another crime-themed announcement this morning during a campaign stop in Saskatchewan, the province which just happens to have the highest overall crime rate in Canada and the highest incidence of violent crime.
Meanwhile, the parties are back and forth on this.
The Conservatives say the NDP has no credibility on crime issues. [No Web link available at this writing]. The NDP fires back saying the Conservatives are “dishonest on crime”.
And the Liberals feature Conservative broken promises on crime.
Some data to frame this discussion, courtesy Statistics Canada:
police-reported crime since the rate peaked in 1991.
The 7% drop in the national crime rate was driven mainly by decreases in
counterfeiting and high-volume property offences such as theft $5,000 and
under, break-ins and motor vehicle thefts. ….
After rising in 2006, the overall crime rate among youth aged 12 to 17
declined slightly in 2007. While non-violent offences committed by youth
fell, youth violent crime remained stable.
Crime rates continue to be highest in Western Canada and the territories.
Among the provinces, Saskatchewan once again reported the highest overall
crime rate as well as the highest violent crime rate . . .
[source: