Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members have heard numerous statements and questions from me in regard to our justice system, and today I want to continue on with that theme related to root causes.
In May I talked about recidivism and the drastic increase in the number of violent crimes being committed in our territory, often by criminals who are committing a violent offence for the 17th, 18th, and sometimes even 30th time. The question I’ve been getting as an MLA representing a riding here in the city of Yellowknife is: how safe are our streets? When we have an RCMP inspector stating that this past June was the busiest month that the RCMP have had in Yellowknife in the last four years, well, that’s a very disturbing situation for me, and I really do believe that the government has got to be paying attention. A night out in downtown Yellowknife on a Friday or Saturday night should not end up with a person getting swarmed, jumped, robbed, or assaulted.
Again, the root causes of this increase in violent crime in our community are drug and alcohol related. Everybody knows that. As a government, what exactly are we going to do about that? We spend well over $70 million annually in providing services and programs in the areas of corrections and policing. Why are we not seeing numbers turning in a positive direction? It is time that we start to measure the success of the programs and services we provide with real numbers.
Key social indicators need to be taken stock of right at the very beginning of the life of a new government. The goal of this incoming government would be to see those key social indicator numbers come down after four years, not go up. This certainly would help lend a level of accountability to a new government.
The bottom line is, business owners, residents, and constituents, and even the RCMP are saying that things are getting worse, not better. It is time that the debate over a government run and operated alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre in the city of Yellowknife is resurrected. Could the root causes of crime in our community be better addressed by a dedicated service centre for addictions? I absolutely think so.
I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
