HomeMy WebLinkAboutSHCAC - 2012-02-02 - Letter of Support for WRCPC Position PaperAppendix B
January 11, 2012
Dear Honourable Members of the Senate,
The City of Kitchener recognizes that community safety and crime prevention are basic elements in the
quality of life and sustainable development of municipalities. Kitchener's citizens share this same
understanding; public consultations have consistently identified safe and secure neighbourhoods as a
high priority. We also recognize that municipalities play a key role in preventing crime and addressing
neighbourhood safety and security.
The city has informally adopted a prevention approach to this role, which includes: preventing crime
through effective environmental design and urban planning; primary prevention; targeted activities;
fostering strong community partnerships; and intervention through enforcement and security.
One of these targeted programs is the Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee (SHCAC), which
advises Council and staff on policies, programs and services offered either directly by or in conjunction
with the City of Kitchener and that relate to the overall health of our neighbourhoods. Specifically, the
committee considers and advises on the municipality's role in community safety and crime prevention
initiatives, with an emphasis on community partnerships and collaboration.
At a recent meeting, SHCAC members were presented with a position paper, written by the Waterloo
Region Crime Prevention Council (WRCPC), on the federal Safe Streets and Communities Act (Bill C-10).
The WRCPC's position paper maintains that, as an omnibus bill, C-10 simply cannot accomplish its goals
of reducing crime and maintaining public safety. Having reviewed and discussed the WRCPC's paper,
SHCAC member agree with its position and with its recommendations:
• That the Omnibus Bill C-10 be disaggregated and reviewed bill by bill because of the vastly
divergent nature of the proposed legislation;
• That all mandatory minimum sentences be evaluated in light of evidence and expenses. Given
the current economic times and the potential for cost to be downloaded, directly or indirectly,
to already financially stretched provincial and local governments, a common sense approach to
any allocation of limited resources is needed; and,
That the Government of Canada be asked to balance any investment in correction and
enforcement with strategic investments in prevention, and that specifically the Government of
Canada implement a National Crime Reduction Board with the mandate to advance social
development efforts that have a proven track record in preventing and reducing crime,
victimization and fear of crime. The role of this Crime Reduction Board would be to augment
changes in legislation, enforcement and corrections with prevention
As a city, we have long recognized that the most effective, efficient and sustainable solutions for
preventing crime are those that target the root causes, not the symptoms. Ours is a municipality that
recognizes the complexity of crime and the critical importance of preventative and pro-social
approaches to crime reduction. Our taxpayers should not have to pay for a strategy that belies good
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common sense and stands outside of our growing empirical understanding of best practices in ensuring
community safety and security.
We would be pleased to hear from you. Please feel welcome to contact our Director of Strategic
Planning and Innovation, Shelley Adams, at 519-741-2476 or shelley.adams@kitchener.ca .You may also
contact our Strategic Planning Associate, Sue Weare, at 519-741-3400 (ext. 3261) or
sue.wearel~kitchener.ca .
Sincerely,
The City of Kitchener Safe & Healthy Community Advisory Committee
Enclosure:
Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council Position Paper on Bill C-10
Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council Position Paper on Mandatory Minimum Sentences
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