Pubdate: Thu, 20 Oct 2005
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact:  http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Mia Rabson

TORIES SET OUT CRIME PLAN

Murray Would Hire 100 New Officers

WINNIPEG would get 100 new police officers and three new detox facilities 
for kids addicted to drugs if the Conservatives form the next government.

Though the next provincial election is likely two years away, Manitoba Tory 
leader Stuart Murray pledged yesterday as premier he would spend almost $20 
million in his first year in office to combat crime.

The multi-point plan, unveiled yesterday in Central Park, focuses mainly on 
gangs, guns, and drugs, and includes a promise to hire 100 new officers for 
the Winnipeg Police Service, with at least 30 of them dedicated to gang and 
drug units.

"Manitobans deserve to feel safe," said Murray.

The Tory plan was released just over a week after 17-year-old Philippe 
Haiart was shot and killed in Winnipeg's West End, the innocent victim of a 
gang shooting.

Murray said Haiart's death was a huge tragedy but said his party's plan is 
not in response to it. It has been in the works for months, and is based on 
consultations with community members and those in law enforcement, he said. 
The Tories also pledged to do an immediate review of policing in Winnipeg 
to ensure there are no holes needing to be filled, dedicate Crown 
prosecutors to deal specifically with gun crimes, restrict the use of plea 
bargains for those accused of gun-related offences, and hire 20 new 
probation officers hired to help enforce probation orders imposed by judges.

Tory Justice critic Kelvin Goertzen said the new probation officers will 
reduce the workload by 20 per cent. There will also be a specific unit of 
probation officers assigned to enforce probation orders on violent or 
high-risk offenders.

A new 15-bed in-patient drug addiction ward for youth would be built, 
complemented by a 12 new detox beds and a 12-bed stabilization unit.

Goertzen said the police and prosecutions measures are estimated to cost 
about $15.8 million, and the new drug addiction facilities and programming 
another $4 million.

"Today in Manitoba there are many young people dying a slow death because 
of their involvement in gangs," said Goertzen.

Murray urged the government to take notice of the plan. "They've had six 
years and we've seen numerous press announcements but nothing has been 
done," he said.

Manitoba Justice Minister Gord Mackintosh said many aspects of the plan are 
already in place including new police officers (54 new officers across the 
province will be added over this year and next), a provincial gun 
enforcement unit, and putting police officers in schools.

He said other aspects of the plan don't make sense, such as specialized 
prosecutions unit for gun crimes.

"You can't just separate guns from drugs and gangs," said Mackintosh.

He said the Tory strategy also ignores the importance of going after the 
causes of crime, such as poverty.

An entire copy of the Tory's anti-crime plan is available at 
http://www.manpc.mb.ca.
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