'Tide of human misery': Nanaimo mayor speaks out after recent crimes
Surveillance video from Nanaimo shows the alarming moments after Clint Smith, owner of an auto repair shop, was shot in the stomach on Sunday.
The shooting occurred after Smith and several other people went to a homeless encampment to retrieve some allegedly stolen items.
The incident left Smith clinging to life, and now Nanaimo's mayor is once again desperately demanding that the province step up.
"There is a tide of human misery out there, and people don't want to see that anymore," said Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog.
"They want to feel safe in their streets and they want to know those who need care, get the care they need," he said.
On Tuesday, B.C. Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth responded to Krog's call for action.
"We have been stepping up," he said. "That's why we invested $230 million over the next three years to hire 274 RCMP officers to fill vacancies right across the province."
Farnworth also laid out details of a previously announced $25 million plan that will bring together teams of prosecutors, police and probation officers to tackle a rise in repeat violent offenders.
That initiative is expected to launch in April.
Nanaimo's mayor says he commends the plan, but more action is needed immediately.
"We need to have hope," he said. "The downtown merchants, the people who work downtown in communities across this province, are done," he said.
"They're getting angry. Their reservoir of compassion is drying up," said Krog.
In downtown Victoria, there's a similar appeal for help.
Belinda Wallenburg, owner of Baggins Shoes, says the store has been the victim of vandals and crooks.
"We've just had our window repaired from thefts that were happening next door," she said.
"The local people don't necessarily want to come down because they're thinking, 'Oh my god, there's just so much crime here,'" she added.
Staff at Baggins Shoes want swift action from any level of government.
"Well, if there was more funding for maybe some more foot patrols downtown, or a security company," said Wallenburg.
Nanaimo's mayor says concrete measures, including secure, involuntary treatment for those most gripped by addiction or mental health crises, are needed.
"People are tired of being victimized by a criminal behaviour," said Krog.
"And the families of those in the streets, they're worried, they're concerned, they're looking for help," he said. "We need secure facilities. We need treatment."
The Nanaimo RCMP aren't confirming whether the person in the surveillance video shot Smith, nor have they made any arrests in the case.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.