BC Conservatives unveils public safety plan

The BC Conservatives unveiled its public safety platform on Monday, outlining ways to address they ways “our communities have become unsafe and law-abiding citizens are paying the price.”

Conservatives Leader John Rustad says if elected, the party will “put criminals behind bars, restore order, and make public safety the number one priority again.”

Rustad explained the platform includes targeting the “NDP’s so-called ‘catch and release’ approach.”

Researchers and police across the province say statistics show most crimes are down in B.C., but that hasn’t quelled the voices calling for more to be done on bail reform, enforcement of regulations, and other changes to the justice system.

The party’s plan includes cracking down on bail offenders; hiring more sheriffs and judges; “fighting for mandatory minimum sentences,” creating a new court; hiring more police officers; ending drug decriminalization; removing encampments; and forcing mandatory mental health treatment.

The party says it will also address public safety by “crushing organized crime” and the toxic drug crisis. It also wants to “integrate addiction and mental health treatment into the justice and correctional systems.”

“The Conservative Party of BC will bring bold leadership, end the chaos on our streets, and make our province safe again. We will always put the rights of law-abiding citizens first and bring back the safety that British Columbians deserve,” Rustad shared.

The Conservatives did not, however, share where the funding for the platform initiatives would come from.

“Under a Conservative government, bail offenders and violent criminals will be behind bars, not on the streets,” Rustad said. “Law enforcement has been undercut at every turn, and public spaces have been overrun by chaos. The Conservative Party will defend our police, restore order, and make our streets safe again.”

–With files from The Canadian Press.