'The sustainability of Victoria is at stake': Downtown stakeholders ask city to increase police budget
A sharp rise in crime in Victoria’s downtown core has stakeholders saying that public safety is in crisis.
“We really need to see more resources going towards our frontline police to help deal with some of the issues that we’re faced with,” said Jeff Bray, executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA).
The DVBA, along with the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Destination Greater Victoria, Our Place Society and the Conservatory of Music, has penned a letter to City Hall. It’s asking the city council to approve the hiring of six new police officers and four civilians before it’s too late.
“If we don’t get a handle on this, the sustainability of Victoria is at stake,” said Jane Butler McGregor, CEO of the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
Victoria Police Department Chief Del Manak is asking for a seven per cent increase to his department’s budget, or $4.1 million more than the current year.
“It really is a question for council to decide on what sort of investment do they want to make in public safety,” said Manak. “This is one of their core responsibilities, to keep their citizens safe.”
The city budget will be approved in the new year. Currently, council is debating what increases should be sent out for public engagement, to be added to that budget for approval.
“I don’t see any problem when we get to budget debate in the new year with these resources being approved,” said Lisa Helps, Victoria’s mayor.
The mayor, who also co-chairs the Victoria Police Board, says Victoria is a safe city but admits there has been an increase in violent crimes. She wants to see the increases approved.
“I certainly support them; I support the work that Vic PD does,” said Helps. “They are in very difficult circumstances, as are police departments in every city in this province.”
Our Place Society has signed the letter as well.
“We have seen a rise in violence on our streets and disorder,” said Julian Daly, the society’s CEO.
Although many homeless individuals have been housed through the province’s purchases of hotels, some people aren’t able to be housed in those hotels, either because they have caused problems and been removed or they don’t want to live by the facilities’ rules. That puts them back on the streets, often to rely on crime for survival.
“The police actually, in reality, day to day here, we see them helping and keep people who are some of the most vulnerable citizens – homeless folk on the street – safe,” said Daly. “Safe particularly from the criminals who do prey on them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.