Ottawa, ON – Arpan Khanna, Conservative Shadow Minister for Justice & Attorney General of Canada, and Frank Caputo, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety, released the following statement on the release of a British Columbia offender with 274 criminal convictions:
“This week, a British Columbia offender with 274 convictions, averaging one conviction per month since his 18th birthday, was released back onto the streets once again. This is the reality after eleven years of reckless Liberal policies that have unleashed chaos and disorder in our communities.
“While shocking, this case is not an isolated incident. Under the Liberals, a small number of repeat offenders terrorize our streets with a disproportionate amount of crime and violence.
“In Kelowna, just 15 offenders generated 1,335 police files in a single year. In Victoria, 10 chronic offenders were linked to 1,385 police interactions over two years. In Chilliwack, about 12 offenders account for up to 60 percent of local crime.
“This did not happen by accident. Liberal soft-on-crime legislation like Bill C-5 removed mandatory prison time for drug trafficking, while Bill C-75 made it easier for repeat offenders to get bail. Mark Carney’s Bill C-16 introduced a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card, allowing judges to ignore almost all mandatory minimum sentences, including for extortion with a firearm, human trafficking and aggravated sexual assault with a gun.
“Instead of fixing the problem, the Liberals offer Band-Aid solutions. Even their so-called bail reforms in Bill C-14 are only a partial fix while repeat violent offenders continue to cycle through a broken catch-and-release system. Yet when Conservatives proposed real solutions like the Jail Not Bail Act, which would have ensured these repeat offenders stay behind bars, the Liberals voted it down.
“Families deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities. They are tired of watching the same offenders get arrested and released while innocent Canadians pay the price.
“Conservatives will restore the promise of safe neighbourhoods by repealing Liberal catch-and-release laws, ending Liberal bail, bringing mandatory prison time for violent offenders and locking up repeat offenders.
“While the Liberals put offenders first, Conservatives will never stop fighting to keep you safe.”