CRIME, JUSTICE and the legal
system provide consistently con-
tentious issues for the voting
public.

Whether it is an unhappiness

with the sentencing determined in
a high profile case or escalating
crime rates, most people have an
opinion regarding the broad issue
of law in Canada.
_. North Shore law and order ac-
tivist Noreen Provost, of Citizens
United for Safety and Justice,
believes that crime should be a big
issue.

“] think that. the citizens across

Canada want something done -

about crime and every politician is
obliged in my mind to reply,’’ she
said.. < | :

cent citizenry is the. first duty of
any: government in a democratic
country. She says our. government
is not doing the jeb. :

'-Provost .‘claims © that )
‘crime is on the rise, although the

‘general crime rate has levelled off. . ..

~;. Local police. say’ the North

-Shore’s crime rate is not as high

‘as itis. perceived to be.- .
. The police also state the North
Shore crime. rate'is not high when

‘compared to” statistics - in’. other

lidates ponder legal issues

-  CAPILANO-HOWE SOUND
(CANDIDATES:

"Audrey Sojonky .
Liberal Party. .
. ‘Back: in“ May the. Liberal Party
' announced 'a'package of proposals
‘for combatting ‘Canada’s growing

‘crime -problem.’ It: included .

‘Stronger, measures “on _ violence
against women-.and children,

She thinks ‘protection of inno- |

violent,

THE ISSUE

The following is the third instal-
ment in an ongoing series of
stories addressing some of the
many issues facing Canadians as
they consider who to vote for in
the upcoming federal election.
Today’s story and responses on
the issue of Crime and Punish-
ment were written and compiled
by News centributing writer’ Kevin
Gillies.

Lower Mainland municipalities.

Yet the issue of youth crime and
the Young Offenders Act con-
tinues to draw attention. :

As matters stand, the act sepa-
rates youth offences and adult
offences in court and on a crimi-
nal record. It also prevents the
publishing of the names of young
offenders --- those under the age
of 17. ss

Many are: calling for amend-
ments to the act, saying it does
little to deter recurrent criminal
activity. ee .

Said Provost, ‘‘There should be
changes to the. Young Offenders.
Actas everyone is calling for, but
people must look at the whole

THE RESPONSE

We asked the federal candidates
on. the North Shore about where
they. stand on the issue of crime
and .punisiinent.. The following
are their responses to issue.

stricter gun-control laws and:
reforms to the Young Offenders

justice system. We can’t just come
down hard on young people and
be as lenient and permissive as we
have been with the adult criminal
population.”

According to figures released by
the Canadian Centre for Justice
Statistics, Statistics Canada:

@ the average rate of homicide
per 100,000 population in the
Vancouver area for the period
1982-91 stood at 3.4. The figure
places Vancouver in third place
behind Regina at 4.4, Montreal at
3.5; .

@ the number of reported sexual
assaults has increased dramatically
from approximately 10,000 in
1983 to well over 30,000 in 1992;

@ the rate of common assault
escalated from 300 per 100,000
population in 1983 to 650 per
100,000 population in 1992;

@ break and enter offences
maintained a_ relatively. steady
count — 1,462 per 100,000 popu-

‘fation in 1983 to 1,559 per 100,000

popuiation in 1992;

® motor vehicle thefts rates rose

from approximately 300 thefts per
100,000 population in 1983 to just
over 500 per, 100,000 population in
1992, .

Act and the. National Parole

: Board.

Mary Collins

Progressive Conservative Party

We need to make further changes
to the Young Offenders Act and
look at other crimes involving:
persona! injury. Victim impact
statements should. be . used in
assessing sentences or penalties
a See Candidates page 16

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“| ERRGEREHeTS mane nai.

“Reform is the only party that

has yet shown a credible
commitment to getting control

of the national debt.” 7

Globe & Mail, Sep. 23, 1993

A Real Choice
for Real Change. .

Capilano-Howe Sound
Constituency Office

Telephone 926-6659

768 Marine Dr West Vancouver _ REFO, AG)

_ PARTY GF CANADA

Authodzed by Doug Hendenon, Ollidal Agent for Hesb Grubed’.

REFERENDA

The Constitutional
Referendum last year is not an exam-
ple of the way Reform would run a
referendum. Firstly, a referendum
would only take place at the time of
an election so that.costs could be
kept to a minimum, mainly the

printing of ballots. Secondly, most-

teferenda would be initiated by citi-
zens sather than the government. It
would then be up to the opposing
sides to provide their own funding
and to eam their share of the vote.

In general, the government's
role in running referenda would be
to provide the mechanism and any
necessary statistical or background
information, but not to fund or
atrempt to influence the process.

Refosm suggests a petition of
3% of the eligible voters as the trig-
ger for a referendum question. This
would be a total in the range of
500,000 signatures so although the
percentage is low, the actual number
of signatures required is high enough
to prevent “referenda for the sake of
teferenda”. .

RECALL

Reéall is the process of remov-
ing a politician from office at some

veteran tan Tho

Candidate

"1336 Maix St.

North Vancouver

Telephone: 7

980-5300. -

| REFERENDUM AND RECALL —
Referendum and recall are two ele
important ways that Reform propos-
es to give you a greater say in the

way your federal government func-
tions.

point in time between elections
The threat of possible recalt helps to :
keep representatives on their toes #.
and ensures that they properly repre-’
sent their constituencies. oh

I have heard some people say
that they do not approve of recall,
because it.could be open to abuse
from special intérest groups and
‘other political parties who just want
to get rid of the MP. This position is
nat borne out by the experience in’
places where recall is a reality. The
old line parties have brainwashed ‘us
into thinking recall will not work. j
because they do not want to be held -
accountable between elections. ..- ff

In places which have recall,
such ‘as California, an actual recall is
a very rare event. Even though
California has a very low threshold §
for a recall petition, about 5% of the. .
voters, can you remember when the §
last recall occurred? | rest my case.
The key is to have an initial screen: ..’
ing process which ensures that the
proposed recall is for a genuine rea-
son such as failure co represent the
majority position of the constituen- §
cy. As someone running for office, 1
have no fear of recall. If I do not do .
the job you elected me to do then
you should be able to recall me.

More information about teferen-
dum and recall is available in our
brochure “Sa You Don’t Trust The
Politicians”. Call and ask for your =
copy. .

Authurized by Vie Benningum, Official Agent fir Ted White

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Greater
Vancouver
, Regional :

istrict