West End Continues to Suffer Drugs and Crime

The police surge in the center of the city seems to have the unintended consequences which is driving the problem into the West End. Businesses and residents have indicated that there is has been greatly increased drug use and criminal activity in their area. News stories seem to confirm the activity. And even those just passing through will notice the influx of people and drug activity plainly visible.

In the days after the July long weekend the numbers have really increased for those out on the streets. Drugs are ever present as are the needles and other sharp material. The vulnerability of businesses, churches, schools and cars is palpable. A door locked does not represent safety. Walking to your home, car, place of worship, restaurant could be perilous despite how short the distance. 

Some business people indicated they were adding security features or patrolling themselves but almost all were crying for sustained police presence. As of June, we have increased police numbers in keeping with our increased population but we are still below the national ratio for police. Those running for council or mayor could make a case more police on the street. Those asking for defunding of police could be asked how they would handle the problems the city is facing now. Perhaps they have better answers. Living a socialist life doesn't always end addictions and mental health issues as demonstrated by the Soviet Union or present day China where reports say young are using mind numbing drugs. And the toxicity of the drugs now make it seem impossible that even with food and shelter security, some people are not going to have the mental health or addictions control to to avoid self harm and harming others.

It is no wonder why the West End is begging for some relief. To support using drugs every day requires money and that means anything that is not cemented to the ground is taken and sold. A vacant house will be stripped down and a fire set to stay warm resulting in another tooth knocked out on the street. Whatever sympathies people have can't stand the constant pressure of fear and loss. As it gets colder, we could see an acceleration and loss of life seems inevitable and, in fact, is already happening. A more aggressive stance for criminal behaviour comes with that. There is zero tolerance for violence or, at least, should be. Chronic repeat offenders have to be dealt with. Just as repeated drug and alcohol driver who won't control their actions, they have to serve time because even loss of license or car sometimes doesn't work.

The numerous councillors and MLAs still holidaying is galling. Do something and stop saying a long term plan is being debated. You don't have that amount of time. If something happens in a school, you won't have anywhere to hide. And it will. Kids navigating the bodies, needles and possible assault will be hard to ignore. School starts soon. We can't let this get worse.

Canad Inns to Sell Properties in Downtown Winnipeg

Perhaps it was inevitable after the death of Leo Ledohowski in 2025. Not every one of his family member lives in Winnipeg. The disposition of the various hotels and properties has already begun. Recently, the Tavern United in the pumphouse beside the Canada Life Arena was closed. The speculation though was that the lease had expired and the Jets owner had a use in mind for the property.  The name coming up was Moxie's as being an interested in the space. I thought perhaps Tavern could go in Canad Inns own property at Somerset but it appears the family had other plans.

The Manitoba Metis have already announced early they might be interested in the hotel at the very least. However, the Ledohowski's have said that is only available as a package with the other properties. It is possible the MMF could take all the properties of partner up with someone. Perhaps, the Jets might be interested in the Met building for its concert business and Jets/Moose game events. Certainly the Jets organization don't want empty buildings beside them after all the years of trying to build up surrounding area.

Some on Facebook are proposing a treatment and addictions housing center. That is probably premature for a hotel that still is viable but probably in need of an update just as several in the downtown have been getting or are getting now. As for the largely empty Somerset building, it sits right across from the arena and has a skywalk through it. I expect there is a use for the building, especially the ground floor which one house a Dollar Tree. Sitting directly across from one of the main entrances to the arena, it is possible it could be a good place for some restaurant or bar. The Somerset used to have Woolworth based there and the upper floors offices. It is possible someone might have a use for it. The Aveda building next door is a great example of someone finding a new use for a fine building.

The former Northstar Inn (now Radisson) with its parkade might be an attractive option for someone wanting a hotel. However, the price to upgrade will be the millions. The Fairmont is presently going through a $120 million rebuild. The Charterhouse rebuild to Best Western Plus Downtown was $30 million. The Sutton Place Hotel and Suites is likely up in two years. No timetable or price another hotel on Broadway. Add to this the impending sale of The Fort Garry. The final touches are the skywalks funded by city and province for Sutton Place are being made. The Radisson and adjacent buildings already have skywalks.

So many projects come on stream late this year and into the next two years. Changes of ownership should not be unexpected. It was locals families that transformed the Fort Garry and the Metropolitan. Hopefully, it will be local to take them to the next level.

The Winnipeg Police will be initiating a crackdown on open drug use. However, this time it will run into November and they will be accompanied by workers equipped to help people will assistance. Too many residents, businesses and even support services are overwhelmed by overdoses on such a scale and people in doorways and encampments and not being able to ensure personal safety and property security.

The longer a building has no users, the greater the chance it will burn in this environment. It appears that the hotel and the Met are not shuttering but a new owner dedicated to their revitalization would be most welcome. Meanwhile, the city and province could do a lot to make sure that people feel they can come downtown and not regret it because of safety and security reasons.

July Weekend of Crime and More

It was a pretty awful weekend by any metric. A man in a wheelchair stabbed randomly in the afternoon in a courtyard on Powers Street Friday. In Crescentwood by Kelvin High School, a man smashed windows at the school and various homes at 6:30 AM. He threatened people and stole items. Some time on Friday, someone cut all 15 tipi poles in half for an indigenous celebration on Kenaston. And the list goes on of drug arrest, high speed chases and other assorted stabbings and violence. 

This isn't cherry picking. And heaven's knows what the police and fire reports will be Monday. Multiple neighbourhoods and businesses are begging for a surge of police resources. At the same time activists are begging them to back off. They really can't went people are being stabbed, threatened or businesses and schools attacked. 

It doesn't help when Reddit anonymous posters complain about the patriarchy and corporate ownership when stores are being ransacked. They even complained when unionized government liquor stores used security screening even after violent assaults. To be fair, even posters at Reddit are getting a little exasperated at the threats to safety with comments on the rampant arson, store chaos and literal open use of drugs and people dying in the streets every day. 

Once again, this is happening everywhere with toxic drugs everywhere in Canada and beyond. No one wants to blame to victims but who exactly are the victims here? And how are you helping if they are released so quickly after offending. Clearly, some resume immediately what they are doing. The lawlessness is exhausting even the most sympathetic to addictions and poverty. 

Some transitional housing groups are now refusing housing to those who have not even begun some process of weaning off drugs. The worry is that it will end in arson, violence and hurt those being taken care of. At some point, for many, a violent encounter probably means being remanded and awaiting trial. That is too late after damage is done but it might be the only time to get people off the lethal drugs they are on. The problem is the endless supply of people into this cycle.

Add in racist instant of attacks on indigenous people and high speed street racing and you have a weekend of chaos. The police have their hands full. Still, neighbourhoods are begging for a police presence to enforce some form of lawful behaviour. Those living in areas seem to think that all that is being done is reviving people and giving them clean needles and save places to get high. Many of the people are too high and unsafe for shelters and the constant need to find money to feed the addiction means businesses and individuals are targets. It is a vicious cycle.

With an election this fall imminent, it seems we will likely have police called in more. However, Gillingham is looking for a non police and fire-paramedic response to this. How this is done remains unknown. It probably involves existing services but how they become involved in a mental health or drug crisis that doesn't require any police or fire is the big question. It might be some sort of triage in the 911 calls. At the moment, we are short 107 paramedics so maybe he can address that first. If there are police shortages, I have not heard the latest number.  Shortages in front line workers before and election is a recipe for questions on re-election for mayor and council alike.

Something has to be done before it gets even worse.

Osborne Village Suffering

There are many good things happening in Osborne. New buildings, new restaurants and new housing. However, the drug toxicity has been profound and some of the social agencies are now causing friction among their neighbours. Daycares and businesses are dodging needles and human waste. Belligerent and drugged people are in doorways and everything from employees to customers risk and encounter that is more than just unpleasant but dangerous.

Despite a lot of sympathy and understanding, the level of tolerance for increasing levels of encampment within the streets is waning. Safety feels like it is being compromised. The social agencies can't simply fob this off and say any type of diversion, enforcement or security presence undermines their efforts. They are literally not responding to requests to do something.

More money is coming to assist those in need, more housing and support workers are coming and more recovery addictions centers are opening. The police are even making major trafficking arrests but the scope is so great that progress looks glacial. And if hard drugs are off the street, it means people with addictions seek other things including hand sanitizer. Street patrols seems to be in endless cycle of reviving of people who would surely die. Multiple times. It is soul destroying for those going through it and for front line workers. But it is also exhausting for those living beside it.

Many of those people will not complain, won't make a fuss or even inform others. They will simply stop shopping, close businesses, stop providing services and move. They will abandon the area lest anyone say they are intolerant, paranoid or cruel. If people feel unsafe, experience security and sanitation issues or feel their place of business, services or home is in the line of fire, they will start streaming out.

At the moment, people in Osborne are begging for help and often having their calls unanswered, This is an election year and that dog won't hunt. It will be too difficult when schools and daycares start pushing the issue of needles and dangers of aggressive behaviour within their areas. The first child to get an infection from stepping on a needle or teacher harmed trying to defend heir students will result in an explosion of calls to action.

There are double the amount of MLAs in Winnipeg than Councillors. Most of the them are NDP. Osborne is the premiers riding. It is unlikely that he will able to pass the buck too much longer if the crisis grows even greater. There is a growing desperation about dealing with this even as parts the area are trying to revive. The drug problem is out of control. Activists telling the public that police, security and other hurt their efforts seem willing to have daycares and school bare the costs of someone getting wounded or worse. Or watching a neighbourhood whither and die and go down in arson.

Anti-Semitism in Manitoba

A lot of focus has happened with Prime Minister Mark Carney speech on anti-Semitism in Toronto. It is notable that the government felt it necessary, even essential to indicate that the people of Canada need to do everything to combat anti-Semitism. Depending on who you talked to after, it was a very productive speech or it was an utter failure. Those that say Carney anti Semite or heads an anti Semite government and nothing will be better till the right party is in place should be taken with a grain of salt.

The latter opinion comes from the American owned National Post that runs more opinion pieces on anti-Semitism than the Jerusalem Post. That isn't an exaggeration. The newspaper seems to run pieces on the federal government and anti-Semitism every day. The Conservative titled newspaper is outrageously focused on the Liberal party and often ignores provincial and municipal issues, including hate crimes that fall as much on other levels of government than the Feds.

To that end, let's focus on the hate crime report from the Winnipeg Police Service for 2025. One interesting note: This story was published in the Jerusalem Post as well. The report stated that hate crimes have gone up 154% since 2019. In 2025 there were 112 incidents versus 44 incidents there year before. Race and ethnicity accounted for 49 incidents with black people accounting for 13 reports.

In terms of religious hate crime. there were 37 incidents with 32 incidents that were against Jewish people. Some critics say there are so many unreported claims. This may well be true but government and police can only do much when incidents are not reported. All we can do is encourage people to report and to try to ensure their safety. If people fear to report because because they will be killed, the police have to investigate deeper. If swastikas are all over the place, it might be important to figure out if you have a cowed population living in fear.

To be fair, despite Winnipeg's large increase in hate crime since 2019, it doesn't even come close to other provinces in total numbers or per capita. One incident is too many but we are in no way close to other places in the country. Still, we need to dig down at Jewish hate here. There has always been an undercurrent in the far left and far right. For some on the left is not accepting Israel's existence and that Jewish people are to blame wherever they are.  For some on the right, it is that Jewish people are part of world cabal that plans to take over the world and control things.

Zionism is the crux here for many. Most Jewish people who live in Canada are not citizens of Israel, can vote in Israel or are even involved in day to day things that happen in Israel. What the majority of Jewish people do support is the right of Israel to exist. Supporters of Hamas and Hezbollah cheering the murder and rape of Israelis on the streets of Canada is both hatred and terrorism. It should be dealt with.

Israel has a right to exist and those who push a "river to the sea" are preaching death to Jews. Driving Jews into the sea basically shows all that some people care about is killing. And if you are in Winnipeg and gather at Kenaston and Grant just to harass Jewish people at a synagogue with death threats, you are preaching hatred. Trying to appoint collective guilt to Jewish people living in Canada about Israel by protesting outside their places of worship, business and homes is not freedom of speech. 

In 1982, the Israel occupation in Lebanon was the last time we saw such a rise of anti-Semitism in Canada. We are kind of back in that time again. If Canadians wish to protest, which is their right, they can do embassies, consulates, various government offices and the like. The moment you go to someone's home, place of worship or business should be dealt with every time. Harassment online doesn't get a free pass either.

Israel is a democracy. They do change their policies and have exchanged land for peace. The Sinai Peninsula is evidence of that. If a Winnipegger wants to lobby for that, do so. But advocating for death should earn you a time in court. This applies to all hate crimes. Criticizing Israel's government policy on Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon is fair game. Even Trump does that. Spray painting a synagogue is not.

In terms of what Carney can do, there have been legislative changes to help police track and make arrests like those for anti-Semitism. However, even Conservatives are wary of such warrantless searches. I guess it depends on whose ox you gore. Still, the federal government needs to show zero tolerance for hate violence and work to prevent that.

As for those who disagree with Israeli actions, do to the Legislature or City Hall. Push for sanctions or divestment. Go to constituency offices and protest. Those are your rights. Protest at universities. But cross the line with violence, harassment of worship places or business and pay the price. Threaten hate and violence online and prepare for legal consequences. No more free rides for bad behaviour.

For those Winnipeggers who socially engage without nonsense, good on you. Report stuff when you see it. Let's not have this end up with terrorism and gunfire. We're better than that. 

Abolish Photo Radar in Manitoba?

A protest movement in Toronto has had photo radar stands being cut down in the middle of the night over and over. The Ford government has always leaned on populist moves and have vowed to ban photo radar. Some municipalities are steaming mad as they use this money to fund policing. 

In Manitoba, only Winnipeg is allowed photo radar in selected areas. Other municipalities in the province have lobbied for it years and you can see why. In Winnipeg it generates between $12-$13 million a year and after expenses for new technology, around $8-$9 million. The province actually takes in more than they city. The company that operates the machinery makes $25 million or about $5 million a year.

The police love the program because it is passive income. The city and the province loves it as it is a money machine. Private industry loves it as they get paid for running it. The only ones who hate it are people who drive and get caught by cameras all over the place in construction or school zones or select other areas around traffic cameras or calming areas. The police don't even have to lift a finger for the program. They just get money.

To be clear, tickets are issued for speeding or going through red traffic lights. Critics say this quantifiably different than if a police officer issued a ticket for speeding through a school zone. For one, those tickets don't come with fines but demerits which takes years of save driving to get back. Enough demerits or severity of the incident could result in loss of license. Other charges might result. With photo radar, it is just a picture and a fine. 

It is part of a growing surveillance society. In some places like Dubai, China and Britain there are cameras everywhere. Many of them are owned by private entities. When combined with AI and facial recognition, it is possible to track people all day long. If the police talk to anyone and a camera records it, that record is kept forever. These are innocent people according to the law. China uses the system to rank people on their reliability.

This should be kept in mind when when thinking of the the growing use of bodycam video from officers. All the people who might be at a Santa Claus parade might be videoed and their images stored forever and sorted by AI for tracking. The rules on all this are hazy.

For photo radar, it is likely it spreads to the rest of the province. The amount of money coming in is too tempting. And while violations are being recorded, the sheer volume of information that AI can sort through and track is staggering.

The NDP in Manitoba now have the reins but could we see the provincial PCs adopt a view to end photo radar. If Doug Ford gains political capital for ending the program, it is highly likely we'll see other political leaders latch on to the idea as a way to boost numbers. To be sure it has caught on in the media about this passive-aggressive monitoring system hoovers in money. The Globe and Mail's columnist Andrew Coyne wrote about it recently.

The police hate traffic enforcement. In the past when chiefs in Winnipeg have asked patrols to issue at least two ticks a shift, the force reacts negatively. And while the service has a traffic enforcement division, most officers would likely argue they don't have time in their day to ticket parking in front of fire hydrants or in handicapped spaces. 

It isn't a stretch to think that photo radar could be expanded to any place in the province as a source of revenue for the province and the city. And if that works, why set up in on streets to ticket cars elsewhere for other offences? The frustration among some people in Ontario has led to the cutting down of photo radar stands.

So far we have seen the level of fury as we have in Ontario come to Manitoba. In recent days though fury has been directed at photo radar, bike lanes and parking. It is a slippery slope if Doug Ford moves to intervene in all those areas, is not possible that areas like toll booths, the demerit system and even car licensing and registration come into question. However, when an investigative reporter in Toronto reported that photo radar could result in a ticket for 1 kilometer over the speed limit, the result was outrage.

Lots of eyes are on the issue here in Manitoba. Cities and municipalities are desperate for this money. And while the argument is this is about the law, the one kilometer over the speed limit sounds like it is more about the money. If Ford finds electoral success from banning photo radar, can it be too long before we see a political party make it an issues here too.

Crime in Manitoba

It isn't just in Winnipeg that crime has taken a new turn. Armed gangs at farms have got rural folk scared. By it's very definition it is organized crime and based on the weapons they are carrying would be a threat to any who encountered them. Meanwhile in the city, murder continues to take place sometimes two times in a day. The police have been quick to make arrests in some of those which is good. The murder suspects are remanded.

Winnipeg continues to have to deal with arson. Vacant properties take too long to find new purpose and sometimes end up burned down. The wreckage takes forever to clear and then the empty lot stays that way for decades as no one wants to risk putting something up. This is what is happening to north Main where large tracts are knocked down.

A nascent national housing strategy of house building has begun. It is early stages but we have seen more houses, townhouses, duplexes and apartments go up all over. A change to student visas has seen major drops of temporary students nation-wide. The lack of housing support post secondary intuitions provided and the wide open work that was allowed for students made this inevitable. 

It is possible we may see changes to the student visa applications that put more onus on colleges providing for or arranging for housing as well as restricted work schedules for students. Some schools like University of Winnipeg have been great at building new housing. The University of Manitoba has been terrible. As it is, the shortage of affordable housing has meant more people on the street.

More than 30 years of homelessness, an increase in the potency of addictive drugs and cost of living going up has been a deadly combination. This combination of things and a whole lot more have contributed to thefts from stores not seen before, behaviour that is belligerent and sometimes violent and often with no seeming consequences. A lot of it is driven by drugs which proliferate more today than any jurisdiction seems to be able to get a handle on.

Winnipeg Police said in 2024 that they need 78 more officers. The service has asked for this while buying a new helicopter, artificial intelligence and robot dogs. The 1,300 officers generally make more than 100,000 and retirements for full pensions start shortly after 50 years old. The budget for Winnipeg Police is the largest line item with over $300 million a year in the city budget. 

Police themselves say better security comes from not just having 78 more police on the streets. It requires more social and law reform, better housing, prison changes and social assistance which hasn't changed in years. Pierre Poilievre has introduced three strikes you are out with 10 years in prison as an election policy. That is one solution. It isn't the only one. Certainly violent offenders cannot keep offending. And repeat offenders need to know their freedom is at stake for petty crime that never stops. But three strikes ended up with prisons bursting at the seams in the states and costing a lot of money.

As for rural police, the provincial NDP have assigned money for more tactical officers, more communications officers and more civilians to the the tune of millions. The PCs have called it as a distraction when the RCMP is so short of constables. It is important to remember they were short under the Stefanson government as well. This is a problem that needs fixing and it will probably take all parties working on it.

The violence happening in hospitals is unacceptable. Nurses, doctors and patients are all in far too much danger. And it isn't just the case of downtown hospitals. There is security at hospitals but clearly more needs to be done. Scanning stations, cameras, patrols and safety audits to ensure there are places that are not security issues.

If people continue to have cars and homes broken into, houses burned down, witness theft from stores every leaves parts of the city defeated and prepared to leave if no action is taken. It isn't normal carrying knives everywhere and using them all the time. Or guns. Those are choices people make. 

Addictions centers are still too few and too long to wait for. Overdoses are frequent due to the strength of the drugs and the many things that end up being mixed in there. Too many places are drug houses or drug distribution centers. Encampments crop up because the people there are sometimes too high and violent to spend night in a shelter. 

The plan to address one encampment after another is a good one if it gets people into housing, assigns a case worker to them and results if a site clean up and frequent follow-up that an encampment doesn't keep popping up. None of this works with backsliding. So much difficulty begins when there is not consistent transition work. If the goal is to reduce police involvement, it means zero tolerance for violence. 

The provincial government is looking to set up a safe injection site but it could be that those going to the site are vulnerable to violence or prone to violence. The issue of what happens to the areas where a site is set up suggests that schools, daycares should not be in proximity. Those same rules apply to cannabis and liquor stores as well. There is already a mobile unit that is in Winnipeg. One wonders if trying to place a site in a place in a city as widespread as Winnipeg is useful or safe.

There won't be one perfect approach to crime in Manitoba. Some of it will be to continue support for community services and school for young people so that they have safe places and good influences. Some of the good news is that cigarette smoking is way down, alcohol consumption down and this reflected in fewer bars as people just don't drink as much and smoking is fairly restricted in where it can be done and where product can be purchased. 

In past crime spikes, they were dealt with by identifying the most most brazen such as multiple arsons, violent offenses or repeat offenses by getting them off the streets. They were remanded and dealt with by the courts. Rehabilitation is possible but only with good supports and that means parole, probation, transition housing, drug and alcohol monitoring and job training and placement. It makes no sense to discharge someone who has no supports and is in a strange city. It is a recipe for disaster as we have seen.

And lastly, Stony Mountain is the oldest federal penitentiary in Canada and one where inmates die at all too frequent rate. It is very likely in need of replacing. Headingley Correctional is also a very old prison that has had it's share of unrest. If rehabilitation is to take place, it can't be without supports, addictions programs and not solitary confinement for days on end.

The way to beat crime is to raise the level of self sufficiency in society. In the past that was a very large middle income for the greatest amount of people. If there are extreme poverty levels, it crushes many people's commitment to the social order. No amount of police can control millions without jobs, homes and food. It is something to keep in mind on forming policy on crime. It isn't just crime. It is about well being.

 

Winnipeg Unicity Shooting 2024

The above is the final moments of a video posted Sunday, November 24 at Unicity of a suspect in a stabbing of a Winnipeg Police officer. The officer survived and was hospitalized but the suspect was shot multiple times. Audio has officers shouting for suspect to drop what is in their hand.

The acting police chief asked public not to judge based on the videos that were shot outside the Walmart at Unicity. Fair enough. There is likely video at Walmart inside and out as well. The Independent Investigation Unit has been called in for officer involved shooting. 

The deceased has not been named yet. It is likely we hear who they are soon but also if there has been past involvement with police. It can be a painfully slow process and sometimes very little information is given out. The information we might get initially is usually family who are feeling the loss and bewildered how it came to this.

There won't be a lot of sympathy in some quarters to the death of someone who may have been responsible for store shoplifting and an attack on police. Some will declare more of this is necessary. Still, keep in mind police don't want to be shooting people every day. Most want their job to be about deescalating things and not having to face people with weapons aimed at hurting them.

The province already as this week another police shooting in Norway House where an armed youth was killed by RCMP. It is under investigation as well. The community there is brokenhearted. Even when stun guns are used, the community has responded that they feel other methods would be better. It was a bad week with another homicide just days earlier. The Cree of the area are hurting.

There is a group of people who wish to eliminate the police or redirect their spending elsewhere. To be sure, there has to more done on mental health, addictions and poverty that can contribute to issues involving crime and violence. It is often a slow process and many do not want any of those three things in their neighbourhood. But even police say they cannot fight poverty, mental health or addictions. That is, unless we want a prison system that has hundreds of thousands in it.

As for those wanting police eliminated or defunded, I have not heard too many alternatives for many of the areas law enforcement works in. However, like the medical system, there is room for evolution. In medicine, doctors no longer need to be writing some prescriptions that pharmacists can write. Testing of blood and other samples are done offsite. Vaccines have been revolutionized in that they are available everywhere and tracked centrally. They don't have to be given by doctors which can save time in outbreaks.

Police were at Unicity as part of the retail theft initiative. Some police are at shops as part of voluntary overtime to deter crime while others are there as part of teams intended to stop shoplifting/violence and take people into custody. The police briefing noted that there were undercover officers present Sunday night. It entirely likely undercover officers did not have Taser or other less lethal weapons. Neither officer had bodycam video which is being introduced as a tool in Manitoba but not presently being used in Winnipeg.

There have been several police involved shootings in Winnipeg over the last few years. Many are still under investigation. It is a difficult time for Winnipeg but this is happening all over Canada. A lot of people have been feeling very sad and often scared that things have gotten this bad. Many things will have to change over the next while to turn things around.

Top 10 Most Wanted in Manitoba

There have top 10 wanted lists for crime almost as long as Manitoba has been around. The Winnipeg Police Service and RCMP have finally put a website with the top 10. Crime Stoppers has gotten an increased amount of money to give to those sending in tips. And police say it is working. The Manitoba Integrated Violent Offenders Apprehension Unit has been doing very well according to their own spokesmen.

Social media is a powerful tool for police to inform and apprehend suspects. They will need to be doing more, not less of this to successfully bring down crime. This involves various apps and not just Facebook. The top ten is great for violent criminals but just as much needs to be done in a timely fashion for petty crime.

The police mentioned that some people turned themselves in rather than appearing in the top 10 profile too long where people saw them. They didn't like that. For some they wouldn't care but it is useful to inform the public. One constant complaint is how police never inform people. 

In some cases it might hurt because the community is helping to hide someone. However, information can dry up completely leaving police with only getting tips from residents. 

The new top 10 list is already leading to apprehension of suspects. The people on the list are not just released. Many have enough charges of a serious nature that they are taken off the street.

Further changes provincially and federally are being enacted on parole and sentencing. A federal prisons such as Stony Mountain is the oldest in Canada.

Some say Winnipeg needs more cops but they are also working 50,000 extra hours a year for private organizations. It would not hurt to examine use of police and hiring for police special events. A lot of resources go into the police force and it is added to pensionable hours. Many police are retired by 50 and the age keeps going down. The police love these extra jobs but it may not be the best for the taxpayer.

The truth is we need a variety of security measures and not all of them involve police. An investigation by Manitoba Veterinary Office was turned over to the police. They laid the information in police hands and they got the legal supports to carry out search and arrests of two people responsible for the cruelty and death of cats. This is how things should work. Much of the legwork can be done by other bodies.

The gathering of video evidence and other security work need not be done by police but civilians. And managing websites of crime can be done by others.  The cruising crowd has attracted some motorcycle clubs and large crowds on Sundays. Signs of gone up in the Princess Auto parking lot which have been ignored. Police are near non-existent. So the most recent Sunday, uniformed security has taken over the lot. 

Private security has risen everywhere and the NDP provincial government has increased the money for private companies to buy alarm systems. However, even high security places like Polo Park can have issues from people despite cameras and patrols. Places like Polo Park can ban people and you see more and more of that but then it means those individuals can be out other places causing trouble.

Ultimately, only the police can get the violent offenders off the street and the Top 10 list helps a lot. It will be tips that do the job more often rather than relying on older, less reliable data. Confidence in the system will only be restored when people can see evidence of dangerous people removed out of their community.

More Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women?

The question has to be asked: Are bodies being disposed to dump areas around Winnipeg because the belief is that they won't be found and won't be subject to a search even if there is a suspicion a victim might be there?

A 33 year indigenous mother of four was discovered by city workers on Monday and today police have identified her as Linda Mary Beardy of Lake St. Martin First Nation. Were it not for keen eyed city workers, it may have been another family in Winnipeg with no answers.

There is a lot to wait for in terms of police work to do. So far they haven't ruled the death as a homicide. What the investigation will reveal is still unknown. The danger for many people is probably overwhelming.

It is not normal for this to be happening. Not surprisingly, it is news nationally and internationally in that it falls into the most horrific category of crimes against persons.

The snow that is falling today could have easily hidden that a person was present at the Brady Road dumpsite. The police should be very concerned that people are ending up there. More needs to be done to track loads that end up at the site. Brady Road has some good tracking. Other sites next to nothing. Nevertheless, even with tracking, Brady Road is a massive place and busy at all times. Given how many times police have been called to the place makes one wonder how longer the status quo can continue.

The police chief Danny Smyth might have unwittingly given comfort to those seeking to hide their crimes to use dumpsites more often. It is no different than our rivers which only when more routine dragging of the rivers took place gave those second thoughts about using it for such purposes.

Winnipeg is a diverse and vital community but has also had a reputation from its origin as a tough and violent place. There has always been a vulnerable population that has struggled with less and had less supports of having a home, health, job and those who care and watch out for them.  The faith in police, justice and government are frail.

Safety is first and foremost in the mind of those in the city and province. If the feeling is that searches won't be done, it only undermines the sense that justice can be done. It only comforts those who commit awful acts that they will remain free.

It can't go on and it shouldn't go on.

Deepest of sadness to the family and all those who suffer not knowing. We have to make it our mission to end this.

Edit: It appears that the woman is question climbed into the bin. There may be more to the story and police are open to more information. This is a tragic situation. Full credit to the Brady Road staff for being on top of things. We can only imagine the desperate search if they hadn't reported in.

Looking Back 2022, looking forward 2023

The start of 2022 was still one mostly of lockdowns and loss. The previous Christmas was cancelled by many families because of severe outbreaks. Even this year my family was weighing the risks. We went ahead but wore masks until seated dining area was spread out. What else can you do? This year I have had Covid for second time and strep and I have been cautious and up to date with vaccines.

Our family is still reeling from the loss of our parents to Covid and an aunt who died while under restrictions due to continued outbreaks. No one wants anyone else to get sick in the family and among friends. And anyone who has gotten sick with some of the worst going on out there now knows it isn't just the sniffles.

And so it goes as the year closes, we struggle with effects of Covid. Even for the freedom lovers who want no restrictions or vaccines, getting sick or having people sick around them will affect their lives. Without being cruel about it, even a minister who preaches freedom who ignores their own health can end up dead. Viruses are not the only danger and denial won't overcome good and regular health checks.

We have been at war in our communities for the last three years. Perhaps it has been longer if you think about the dispute between urban, rural and northern, men and women, religion, language, race and whatever else seems to get our goat. Don't know that any of us are completely free of it. It is often a battle with ourselves. I've done it myself. And the last year or so, I have literally ended relationships because of the level of toxicity. I've resolved to try not to be toxic myself. It doesn't mean overlooking conflict but I will not to engage with it or fuel it.

It probably doesn't help with people in smaller and smaller tribes but mental and physical health doesn't last if family, work, church or community make you ill. Safety is so important for yourself and to escape someone else's unpleasantness. The story of the murders in the Ontario highrise sounds like someone's toxic nature grew to such a rage that it posed a danger to everyone. And eventually did. It is scary. How can you protect yourself?

The explosion in murders in Winnipeg though often seems linked to hard drugs and domestic abuse primarily. And the serial murders are a bitter reality of the vulnerability for women. The provincial government seems stuck with what to do about the lack of housing and hard drugs. Arresting and jailing addicts doesn't appear to end their addictions in prison. Manitoba's prisons are like an episode of Oz except for more murders.

The recent civic election had some elected officials wanting the election to only about about roads and potholes but the issue of crime, housing, drugs and murder is now impossible to ignore. It is hard to talk today about building the Peguis extension when the the city dump is being blocked by people in anguish over lost family. And the truth is that if it had been three police officers buried there, the chief would have never said there would be no attempt at recovery. His own force would have turfed him. Before the end of the day.

But let's not focus all on the bad even if it can seem overwhelming seeing and hearing it about it first hand ourselves. I think we can be glad that employment is at historically high levels. Wages, according to data, have gone up. Immigration is at levels not seen since confederation. Business investment is starting to grow. And residential units planned years ago are finally coming on stream now including the tallest residential tower in Winnipeg.

Of course this is countered by inflation and difficulty in finding workers. Add to that the high cost and availability of housing. The planning and the actual building of houses takes years. It isn't just zoning that takes time but finances, supply chains and contractors to build. Some student housing near the University of Manitoba has been in the planning and building stage for several years. Thankfully, it is coming on stream just as international student demand is exploding. However, the university has already been painfully slow on getting housing built on the abundant land it already has. Still, if you look up and down Pembina Highway there are more high rises being built than in many decades. Some are within the affordable level that students need as well as part of their financing package.

If Canada's immigration level goes up by 500,000 a year as forecast and we have a million foreign students across the county and we only have 300,000 housing units built a year, we have shortfalls already. And they get bigger every year. Starting plans now and having a multi-unit building up in six years will mean we still are scrambling for housing even as apartments and houses go up in the future. Moreover, spreading housing farther and farther from city centers will only stretch service further and further. Costs will go up.

For those thinkin the answer is to cut immigration and student intake, they should consider that business is already struggling to fill all positions including high paying ones. Unemployment is at lows not seen since the Second World War. Restaurants and family businesses are closing for lack of workers. And while pay increases could help, many businesses already do that with no takers either. It is workers choice out there. Many just ghost after applying or doing some shifts. There is just better opportunities out there.

Another few areas where we have seen problems in capacity in 2022 if healthcare, education and professional skills from IT to engineering. There has been too few people trained, too many retiring and too large an increase in need. The provincial government is begging for more health federal supports but there is no evidence that the the province won't just use it for tax cuts. Plus, there revenue situation looks to turn into a surplus in 2023 and yet they still look at the federal government for tax transfers. Presumably for ever more tax cuts. Sadly, tax cuts won't add more doctors. They don't come for the tax cuts.

In the debate about the Manitoba Clinic, a letter from a former doctor there said that both the NDP and the PCs limited the clinics from charging fee for service and having hospital privileges. Certainly, there has been a strategy over the years to limit how many people graduate from nursing, medical and diagnostic programming. Past government have recruited overseas rather than training people here. But rules changes have made it harder so that even trained nurses from other provinces are are finding it hard to move to Manitoba. Add it all up and healthcare reform is needed so that money that does arrive in the system has some accountability.

The election in 2023 provincially will mean that it is hard to avoid going before the media. It isn't impossible but someone like the Health Minister won't be able to stay unavailable as she often does now. Nor will the crime and drug issues be something that the province can blame the city or the feds for. Certainly there will be an attack on the NDP but the blame game going back several years has not moved the polls this time. The Tories are trying to hang a defund the police rap on the Wab Kinew but their own record on not funding the department of Justice falls on them alone.

The issue of drugs, crime and homelessness is something that requires real solutions. The shouts of one side to end capitalism and redistribute wealth and the other side to criminalize homelessness and addiction does not resonate. And it will be curious what sort of solution they come up with the library. Staff want to feel secure and activists want a library with no security checks. The activists got what they want and the result was murder. The librarians got what they want and only the lobby is open. Not great solutions.

The activists should lobby to be part of outreach at the library. That is doable. People who can do wellness checks, assist in arranging coffee, food, counselling, housing assistance and healthcare. The law and safety advocates should should lobby for measures that don't profile people and actually contribute to safe places rather than a security force prepared to make takedowns and arrests. Security measures at the door and inside the building along with outreach and assistance workers is the solution. How it could be anything else is beyond me? Extremist positions on either side have made matters worse.

 In 2023, I'm not sure how many Canadians are aware of just how fast some of the technology changes will be. In Norway, for example, all Hyundai cars sold in that country will be be electric. Canada is slower than that with the mandate that all cars sold be electric by 2035. However, that means over the next years massive infrastructure of charging stations will be built by businesses, homeowners and energy companies. In Winnipeg, it likely means we'll see a push for electric buses at a faster pace since this is the manufacturing hub. And you can expect all couriers and delivery vehicles like Amazon and Fed Ex trucks to be electric far quicker than anyone expects. 

Think of what this means just in Winnipeg. It isn't just emissions from cars but the roar of car, bus and truck engines will be ended after a hundred years. Electric cars just don't have that level of engine noise. It literally changes everything. Canada has just opened its first electric car manufacturer. It won't be the last. And from building batteries to mining lithium, Canada will have leading roles. The only place that lithium is mined in Canada is in Manitoba. Expect to see more of that.

Farmers will continue to have to innovate. While productivity, automation and digitization will help the businesses, there is a strong need to work electrifying farm vehicles, creating energy from the land, storing carbon in the soil and innovating fertilizer. Food security must be looked at with the problems demonstrated in the supply chain. We grow great vegetables in Manitoba. Something to think about when lettuce from California is not available.

We often work against our own best self interests out of fear, stubbornness, ideology, hatred or contrariness.  Presently, we have a government that is bent toward cutting tax. Not always but in general such as the education tax, However, they are far less clear when indicating how they will pay for it if we are to maintain a public education system. It isn't that they don't use tax support to leverage investment. For example, the province had given just under $5 million to support direct flights to Los Angeles via Westjet. The contract is reviewed every six months and money is only paid out if the flights themselves don't pay off. 

All evidence suggests that the TV and movie industry will benefit strongly from direct flights to LA,. The addition of three more soundstages in the city can and will bring in more productions. There is no sunlight in the positions of all three parties in the Legislature on support for the the industry. As it should be. Expect more and more people working in TV and film, gaming and entertainment in the next years.

I don't think anyone will regret 2022 ending, I know very few people who aren't doing something different this coming year. I certainly am.

Best to all in 2023, Let's hope for a recovery in more ways than one for the new year.

Crime Crisis in Winnipeg

It is becoming impossible to ignore. Even the biggest Winnipeg booster and people quick to say things are not so bad are being confronted with crime escalating to the point of driving some businesses to desperate measures and citizens expecting to be victims of property crime or worse. Businesses along McPhllips are being struck over and over. Plywood is all over every neighbourhood door and window as the chances of catching someone break it, enter and steal things is near zero. If you get broken into while you are at home chances are police can't come because they are in a shootout, stabbing or at bear spray somewhere else in the city.

The police downtown are afraid to walk to their cars. If you had asked them where they wanted their new headquarters, they probably would have said Saskatoon. Two mayoral candidates are saying the chief should be fired. The union isn't happy. Many of the candidates in the race have been victims of crime since the beginning of the race. Not sure anyone can recall this happening in other civic races.

In the last day, women were being attacked on buses. And not just downtown. A U.S. study on traffic in 62 downtowns across North America found that Winnipeg was in the middle of the pack in terms of people back as of July. No city has fully returned to pre-pandemic activity in their central areas. Some have had better results such as New York because of the surge of tourism but many workers still have not returned to offices yet.

It is certain that if the same metrics were used in September as they were in July that numbers would be higher. The return of Red River College and University of Winnipeg students downtown has brought life to those areas. Many downtown offices returned to work fully or in hybrid form. Also of note is that many apartments that were under construction the entire length of the pandemic are coming on stream now including the tallest building in the city.

The Downtown Watch has given way to the Downtown Community Safety Partnership that has three teams out and does safety walks. While it is supposed to improve safety, there is simply not enough people to stop the property crime and violence. The DCSP is more about assisting vulnerable people through the 211 phone system. The awkwardly named agency could use a re-branding. The old Watch was recognizable uniform colour and their name. They also seemed to have more authority to deescalate. It seems the name Watch was too militant and the colour red too much like the RCMP. Sadly, the colouring now looks like Freedom Convoy marchers.

There is nothing inherently wrong with yellow/orange vests. The Bear Clan and others wear it well. But they are a truly a community patrol whereas Downtown Watch at one time were sworn peace officers. We do have Winnipeg Police Cadets who do take on downtown walks but the Police Service use them a whole lot of times for directing traffic. A move has been made but to put up CCTV video security downtown but since the initial announcement, nothing has been heard. Questions of who monitors it, where are they placed and who responds are still not known. Also, privacy and how long video is stored for is also unknown.

The Free Press has featured their vacant house team of police, fire, inspector and contractors going from vacant house to house. Good journalism. Good stats. During my walks I pointed out some really good neighbourhood work being hurt by vacant houses/buildings being boarded up and broken into and set afire. I was very concerned that fate awaited Downtown Bay. Unlike the Bay which now has some money and momentum behind it, some of the vacant houses are deteriorating so fast and burning so much, they don't have a chance to be sold and rehabilitated. Some of those houses are in places like Wellington Crescent which has gotten demolition after the third break in.. While the city officials are working better together, city council and the province are slow. If an apartment has been vacant years, seize it. If it burns, knock it down. And charge the landlord who might just want to collect insurance on it. And where possible, rehabilitate. Several hundred homes being broken into because they have been vacant and occupied or being used for crime activities is gutting neighbourhoods. Not all houses seem to get as fast a solution as Wellington Crescent has gotten. Not fast enough for the vacant two story on College that was set on fire the other night.

A debate among mayor candidates turned into angry accusations, among them on who is to blame for violence, specifically domestic violence. A candidate should be looking to propose solutions rather than blaming. Unless his solution is for police to profile certain races, genders, socio-economic groups with perpetual scrutiny. Either way, whatever point the candidate was making has drawn attention and probably not in a way to get things done in city hall. Or get elected.

The most recent Probe poll has Glen Murray so far ahead that it seems insurmountable except when it is compared to undecided. There are likely too many conservative candidates running. Too many progressives and too many liberals. Our electoral system could stand either or run off elections of one that Alaska just used which was the ranked ballot system. Any changes though have to go through the province. And the province seems unwilling to change anything about the Winnipeg Act.

We have seen a few promises dependent on changes to the Winnipeg Act. It seems unlikely the present government is keen to change them. And the next possible government hasn't raised it either. The thing is the city had double the amount of MLAs than City Councillors. The MLAs should care as the provincial election is coming and it will depend on those city ridings. Too many MLAs from all parties need to be asked questions specific to how well the city responds to issues and what their solutions are.

Police have made some impressive arrests lately. One suspect is charged with 69 break-ins, a shoplifting ring has been arrested at Polo Park and a spree of car jacking suspects taken in. But we are overwhelmed and addictions and crime and grinding us down. Perhaps if some of the worst offenders are taken off the streets as we saw in 2014, the long rising crime rates will come down.

Crime and Safety in Winnipeg in 2022 Part 7

Let's be clear from the start: Assaulting the police chief is unacceptable. If this was a protest, it was poorly thought out. Regardless, it was an attack and it seems inevitable that charges will go to court unless a mental health assessment determines otherwise. No matter what your thoughts on the police are, physically assaulting an officer is a crime. Danny Smyth should have been able to attend Folklorama as part of outreach. For many new people to Canada, the one consistent time to meet local, provincial and national officials is at cultural festivals. Is the goal to make sure that elected officials and public officials are only reached once they have been strip searched outside the fortress walls?

A civil discussion of police policy, labour issues, oversight, budgets, use of force and core services does not include a water fight or worse. Neither the police or citizens of the city should be forget this and resort to violence against each other.

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On another matter, the province took it on the chin in a legal decision of money from federal transfers to kids in foster care being redirected to the provincial treasury. Both the NDP and Tories did this and $334 million for kids was stolen from them. Pallister tried to create protection from courts for what his government did. It didn't work. The Stefanson government won't appeal but they don't seem to be in a rush to refund the money either. Thieves. And a good example of what happens sometimes when the Feds transfer money to the province for something. Pallister used it for a tax and service cut. Kids' money. Shame.

An example of how kids who need safety and security were robbed of it is foster care by NDP and Tories.

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The removal of Arlen Dumas from the leadership of Assembly of Manitoba Chief is quite a change from past times. The previous brush with this should have been a warning to do better. In the case of the executive, it was. For the leader, not so much. A third party investigation gave a clear assessment and the executive made a clear decision. AMC is not the only indigenous group that will need to do better. And they did a sight better than political parties who have also clammed up about harassment, violence and bullying. Historic wrongs should be confronted and reconciled. In a lot of cases, past behaviours do not reflect the person as they are today. However, some past offences are so egregious that they can't be ignored and legal and other recourse are needed. The thing that can and should be learned from AMC is the expectation that an organization can ignore continued bad behaviour is not happening. It will explode in their faces. Ask Hockey Canada what they have learned paying millions to protect rapists.

 As a general rule of thumb, try to be respectful. Everyone makes mistakes but if you think no one will make you own up to them, those days are over. Insincere efforts do better will earn you loss of job and maybe jail time.

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Lastly, the child on child crime this week with 13 years robbing and assaulting another 13 year old makes the heart sag. 

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So far in previous parts I have listed things the city and the province can do to help reduce crime and increase safety. That still leaves the federal government. Their contribution of Statistics Canada numbers on crime are a valuable tool that puts pressures on nearly everyone to focus on what is going wrong but also on what is going right. For example the latest numbers for Winnipeg indicate violent crime is up which comes as no surprise and property crime, traffic crime and other crimes are down. We'll look at those numbers a bit later.

Unlike the United States, homicide is solely in the domain of the federal government government. It isn't a state by state thing in Canada. The justice and punishment for this crime rests with the federal government. If the crime rises to a degree where the punishment is two years and over, most end up in Manitoba's Stony Mountain Institution. The inmates call it Murder Mountain. It is one of the oldest prisons in Canada. In 2014, an expansion of 96 cells for a maximum security wing made it a minimum/medium/maximum security prison. Statistics reveal that around 70% of inmates at Stony Mountain are indigenous. Gang warfare is rife and deaths there make the prison series Oz look like a resort. 

In terms of what the federal government does to help with crime and safety issues, here are some areas to look at.

- Reform the RCMP. Constables are being killed for lack of training, poor equipment and failed  management. While the present Commissioner is a woman, it has not been a good place for women for far too long. Harassment and assault can't be every day part of the job. We can no longer have 60 open RCMP jobs in Manitoba. While this hurts the north and rural municipalities a lot, never forget that RCMP Divisional HQ is in Winnipeg. It also took Winnipeg Police and RCMP working together to make arrests in the catalytic converter thefts. It was a city and country crime. It is up to federal government to deliver the best RCMP we can get for policing in Canada.

- Winnipeg and many other areas of North America are experiencing theft of catalytic converters for their valuable metals. The federal government should mandate all new car parts, especially the converters come with a VIN number. It is more effective for the Feds to work with car ad parts manufacturers to do this. Given how many cars in other parts of the country are stolen and shipped overseas, it would be helpful to be able to track them and immobilize them before they get aboard a ship. Confiscate a few ships as proceeds of crime and they will do a lot more to end this organized crime. Federal legislation could end the trade in stolen parts along with provincial regulations and good policing. When cars were being stolen all over North America, it took many approaches to deal with that. It is no different now.

- Housing. The government of Canada has a lot to say about housing through CMHC but their focus has been often on suburban housing that has been increasingly getting higher in price. The older population and housing stock requires new thinking. More affordable options, amenities and density with a focus on security is something the Feds can help with. Homelessness has been in entrenched because governments makes no allowance for single room occupancy or ultra low income residents. Think how many World War II vets, newcomers to the country, single or separated people have used small apartments as a lifesaver. We need Single Room Occupancy (SRO) and tiny houses and places with services to see people move off the streets.

- Safe to say that the past government of Stephen Harper would have never changed cannabis rules in Canada. Never. Conservatives might decry Trudeau then and now but a change in government will not reverse that change the Liberal government made. And why? The reason is legalizing cannabis and allowing provinces to regulate and tax it was safer than prohibition. Today's stores, warehouses, banking, distribution and growing of cannabis have been removed from the control of organized crime. Just like alcohol. While liquor stores were being ravaged by organized shoplifting swarms, cannabis stores operated with ID at door and product behind further locked doors with government oversight everywhere. In other words, well equipped for today's crime reduction world. Further movement on other drugs should be looked at. If not legalization, then decriminalization of small amounts and move things to a healthcare focus and let police concentrate on trafficking of large amounts across territorial borders. Prisons do not stop addiction or reduce criminal behaviour on drugs. Regulation and taxation do.

- Parole. There will always be controversy on this but a parole board, parole officers and supports as well as transparency will continue to be required to ensure low risk to offend are released with monitoring and high risk offenders remain in place. Prisons are expensive places to keep people who society might have better options for.

- Hate laws and freedom of speech. This is primarily a federal area and within our Constitution. The rise in Jewish, Asian and Muslim hate crime has to be taken seriously. Attacking historic and cared for Jewish cemeteries and a beloved Asian store in Winnipeg is heartbreaking. The Jewish population of the city are our friends and neighbours. The Asian community has deep and caring roots and the Muslim community are a growing and diverse people living in peace. Whatever the world conflict, Winnipeg is where many people live together under pluralism. Feel free to express your opinion but if it comes with incitement to hatred, violence and terror know that order will be restored.

- Indigenous People. The Treaties are federal, the responsibility is federal but as provinces have learned, it is also their responsibility for all citizens in their jurisdiction to be cared for. The courts keep ruling in that area as we have seen with the foster care money decision. If you steal money from meant for children, it hurts the children. Stop using for tax cuts that a child doesn't need. There have been a few deals and settlements made which should see new business for First Nations and Metis. Here in Winnipeg, it will probably mean development begins in places like Kapyong and money paid to the city for same rate they world earn as taxes. From the public's perspective, it will probably look very much the same as any commercial/residential development. To make real world change, it is going to require more partnerships, higher education and economic growth to break the grinding poverty and true reconciliation can begin.

- Rural and northern crime. How to stop urban crime is to remember criminals commute. Drugs go back and forth, stolen parts and violent  offenders. The RCMP have said they will taskforce up and go after repeat offenders on an ad hoc basis. This means executing warrants, doing compliance checks and not putting up with individuals who will break the law till someone dies. Better to catch them violating the law than giving free passes. The police often know who the bad actors are. This ain't the good ol' boys. Safety will go up and crime will go down if the Feds give the RCMP and Band Constables the ability to act and deescalate offenders before they harm others.

- Cybercrime. Often now we are harmed by criminals outside our own areas. The federal government is best equipped for this as the crime can and has been about national security attacks by rogue nations that not only involves police but national defence.

- Canada is consistently rated in the top ten for safety among 163 countries according to the Global Peace Index. Other factors figure in the global rating but they point out that Canada has one third the crime rate of the U.S. which shows different government structure have significant differences even with similar cultural backgrounds. There may be a decline this year with the presence of the trucker convoy because that comes under political stability. Even now the convoy continues along Trans-Canada this week and at the Legislative grounds which seems to have a permanent presence on it of protest. Freedom of speech is our right. Overthrowing government is not by force. Use you word and your vote.

- Income supports. Make no mistake: Things like CPP, OAS, baby bonus checks and other supports can contribute to not losing your house, or child, or heath and keeps people safer and more secure. Prison is not the answer for poverty. Homelessness won't go away if homes are unaffordable. Crime won't go down if there is a permanent supply of dispossessed. 

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I have outlined a number of different ways the three levels of government can help with safety and bring crime down. Not all of them cost money. Many cost nothing except change of zoning, scheduling and reassigning staff. For councillors it might be answering your phones to be alerted to a back alley deteriorating in every way.

I'm not a politician, police officer, lawyer, healthcare provider or social worker. Those and others are tough jobs. They all have likely insight on what it is like out there. If anyone is listening. Journalists as well and the various media have an important role too but I'm no closer to knowing who to vote for in the city election. Candidates provide few details and media has not quite given me the profiles and policies to base a decision on. I have begun listening to podcasts but crave a website to compare and contrast.

I don't use any real social media except for business accounts. The pandemic, my parents suffering and passing away, a car collision where my car was written off and I was hurt, my own battle with being sick...twice in 2020 and having to go to hospital started off with a punch in the face leaving work. To add insult to injury, had to make a police reports of theft and fraud, bullet holes in the entrance to my place, break ins and so forth. I tried to stay in good spirits but I was scared to go out. 

In 2019, I was pretty fearless. Cautious but not worried. I was working very late nights at Jazz Fest, Country Fest, movie sets, galas all over downtown, through the city for one of businesses. All the while working my other business and assisting my parents in fixing and emptying their old home while helping them adjust to assisted living.

With all my businesses shut down, I got over my fear by walking the streets of the city. I love this town and posted pictures of my travels good and bad. I walked entire length of Portage Avenue. Both ways. All of Pembina. All of Main, every street of downtown. I needed it because my parents were in ICU with Covid 100 days with no visits. And I couldn't be scared.

Social media among friends is fine but has grown to be a fight in the larger world. It is a mistake to believe the majority of people on say, Twitter, represent the world view on any issue. Those on it can push a trend and can enjoy the engagement but I learned more walking in every part of Winnipeg to be fair. And as restrictions have lifted (I still wear my mask a lot and four times vaxxed), I am doing my part to get out there, stay positive, run a new business and serves thousands doing it. 

Ultimately, to make this city become safer and reduce crime we all defiantly have to inform people, create a community that looks out for each so we call live, work, get educated and seek recreation and not be scared.

In next and last part, I will describe what ordinary people can do to help make their community safer and reduce crime.

Crime and Safety in Winnipeg in 2022 Part 6

From the provincial ledger, much can be done that is beyond the city to do. The levers of courts, social work, healthcare and oversight of policing is all at a provincial level. Housing and health are two main provincial responsibilities. The province has full authority here and both areas are important to a place like Winnipeg in crime and safety. The premier of Manitoba Heather Stefanson has recently weighed in on the side of the police union.

A provincial election is coming soon. Here is what might be needed for crime and safety moves, especially in Winnipeg:

- There is a strong chance that the present government will run a law and order campaign. Some of what they want to do also lies in federal jurisdiction but support for hiring more cops might be an election policy. At the moment, with 4% of RCMP jobs left unfilled in Manitoba, it should be a priority to fill them. And questions asked why those positions are unfilled.

- If additional police are hired for Winnipeg with support from province, the real question is where? Patrol cars, beat cops, major crimes, CCTV? Not even sure the police administration or the union have made a case for where they need more boots on the ground. And to be sure there will be resistance from parts of the public not happy with today's policing.

- The present government seems not to know what to do with the drug and alcohol problem. They are unsuccessfully trying to use law and order measures without doing enough on the health and addictions part of the equation. There was an attempt during the pandemic to do more on mental health and that is progress. But everyone seems to push addiction on the streets which contributes to a growing number of people without housing. Safety and crime follow. More resources from the province on addictions and treatments along with support housing are needed. Restoration of single resident occupancy is only way to end homelessness.

- It is hard to know what the policy on provincial jails is in Manitoba. By all accounts some of the youth detention centres are closing as they are underutilized. At least in southwest Manitoba, specifically the Agassiz Youth Centre in Portage la Prairie. The RCMP reported 24% decrease in overall crime. We'll see how this looks in the next year but on the face of it, the stats were in line with what was happening even before the pandemic. In the north, there was an increase across the board for crime and the province is redirecting resources there. Bad as I feel for Portage, the province is right to do so. The north is under policed and needs more court and detention attention from the province. The overall provincial jail system is a tough place overall but it is probably no where near what is happening at Murder Mountain (Stony Mountain). That federal prison might be the worst in Canada. More on that in federal section of this post. However, back to provincial side of the jail system, there is capacity to hold youth offenders in remand detention and adults in both remand and jails if they pose a threat to society. There is no excuse for some people to be released on an undertaking when they are likely to repeat offences without an intervention.

- Parole and probation services can do better. We need a provincial parole board here in Manitoba. The province leaves it to the Feds but not every inmate is in federal custody. We need better assessment and tracking. We need parole officers and probation. We need halfway houses. We need social workers, training, job placement, heath supports, addiction supports. If this sounds expensive you know what is even more expensive? Prison time.

- Provincial housing is the worst housing in Manitoba and the province is the poorest landlord. This has been true under multiple government of both the major parties of NDP and PCs. Ending homelessness and making a dent in addictions means more focus in this area. Income supports, rules on major housing complexes having a variety of house sizes, ending renovictions and renovating older housing stock are all needed. Safety comes from people having a place of their own and crime reduction comes from support in jobs, training and basic needs.

- The perception of safety comes in part from action of the Crown Prosecutor. In Manitoba, the Crown provide no feedback about why they don't pursue charges. No comment. And in recent years have dropped cases and even seemed to undermine their cases. Other provinces do things differently and are more forthcoming and transparent about briefing the public. Transparency about the justice system is essential in terms of crime and safety. It is hard not to think we have not been let down by this office far too many times.

-In terms of crime and safety, mental health and addiction services or that lack of can beget both safety and crime issues. If someone asks for help and can't get it in a timely way or not at all, it is not surprising to see poor outcomes. Much more is needed in the area of health. The provinces have asked for more federal financing in health but they have cut service and taxes when given more funding. A lack of trust prevents serious work being done. The provinces want no strings money. It is pretty brazen especially since they will still blame federal government for failure even as they re-allocate the money elsewhere including checks to citizens. This needs to stop and measurable improvements health recorded or funding should be clawed back.

- Reconciliation. The province under Pallister had a combative relationship with indigenous people and went to court in various fights and lost on several fronts. There has been an improvement in tone from Stefanson but still a long way to go on substance. Manitoba has the worst record on apprehending children and First Nations and Metis have paid the steepest price. The broken families continues a cycle of safety and crime as kids age of out of care and have no supports as they are jettisoned onto the streets. This has to stop or the suffering continues. Putting kids in hotels as past governments have done or in poorly funded, culturally removed and improperly vetted foster care all contribute to a lack of safety for kids and families. Does the government truly want children to bounce around foster care till they end up homeless, mentally defeated, addicted and victims of or perpetrators of crime? Do better.

- The Forks is not just a city park or a national park. It is even fully a park. It is a multi-purpose space for the entire community. The province is one of three partners there. Yet another attack has taken place there. And no, it isn't because media is focused on it. It is because it is happening with such regularity that it is impossible to ignore.  What is the province to do? The latest firearm charges were released on an undertaking of a promise to appear. The province needs to clamp down on failure to appear and the various writs, warrants and subpoenas need enforcement to stop the revolving door. Want to prevent some murders? Stop letting people out and then letting the crime spree continue. And for those who get out, monitor and provide support. As for The Forks, the duty of the province to take care of it can't be brushed off. They own it and should act like it.

Crime and Safety in Winnipeg in 2022 Part 5

The problems cannot be solved by running around in police cars responding though with no plan, no training and no objective measurement. Not to mention creating bottlenecks in remand, court dates, provincial and federal prisons, parole, mental health assessments, halfway houses and social work. It is so slow turning the policy ship around. Sadly, one of the least powerful of the government bodies in making change is municipal governments. A mayor and council lack sufficient legal, budgetary and regulatory resources to do the work asked of them. But they can do something. On the local side, the police are a powerful tool but can be a blunt one. As we near a city election, here is what some politicians should commit to.

- Daily in-person police briefings carried out on city website and social media. If crime is a crisis then treat it like one and keep the public informed seven days a week. The question of whether enough information about attacks on women on public trails last year still stings. This includes news releases and briefings.

- Commit to bodycams for police and a policy for their release in investigations and for public transparency. Likewise, all patrol cars should be equipped as well. For those that say cameras have no effect on anything, they are wrong. Be prompt about release. Nothing is more corrosive than holding back footage or editing it to dissemble to the public.

- Support a CCTV camera program. Ensure that a consultation phase takes place, that it applies to public places where there may be a pressing need, have rules in place on privacy, have signage to indicate public security and who is watching and how long data is retained. Independent audit and evaluation.

- More police on the beat.  The patrol car responding to crimes as they happen or after they happen will always be required. But true prevention is probably only going to occur with a cop who knows every business in his area, knows the kids, knows the schools and builds trust and by his mere presence is able to prevent things from happening.

- More community patrols and supports for them. Bear Clan Patrol and other community patrols are needed and wanted. They should have community offices to store patrol equipment such as flashlights, communications, orange vests, water, first aid kits, disposals for sharps. It is very hard to commit crimes when 10 to 30 people in orange vests walk down the street. Moreover, it is a lot easier to accept help when a group like this comes by to offer food or water.

- Hire more crime analysts. Good data means more safety, security and policing. Today's property crime is not just pawn shops but social media platforms where stolen good are sold. Crimes taking place on the Internet require expertise there. Breaking encryption, GPS tracking, analyzing numbers in where, when, what and how crimes are taking place can determining the who and why of crime. For example: if a whole bunch of crimes take place with bear spray, the analysts find out how this crime takes place. Where is it coming from? This can lead to who.

- Safety audits to determine parts of city that could use more police presence, better lighting, mirrors, panic buttons, safety walks or any other assistance.

- Safety also means looking for fire hazards, needles and neglect that can lead to crime or safety issues. Not every matter a city deals with is a police issue. Illegal dumping, fire threats and buildings left to rot all lie within city domain. Not the province or the feds.

- Lastly, zoning. Single room occupancy used to support 1,000 people in Winnipeg. The city zoned it out, drove it out and now we have 1,500 homeless people. An aggressive plan to approve SRO needs to take place. Much like the cannabis industry, it is better to legalize, zone and regulate. The closure of all the downtown Main Street hotels has led to rampant homelessness. While the hotels are never coming back, the housing lost needs to be replaced. There are some fine examples of former hotels converted to SRO along Main. If we had 30 more hotels converted like the Occidental, the burden on homelessness would be far less. 

It might seem overwhelming but the city has to get away from the crisis of police and fire rushing all over the city in war mode with sirens blazing. If it is truly a war then every city employee should be out on the streets emptying out garbage, taking control of boarded up houses and buildings, cleaning up needles, assisting every single person in a transit shelter to get housing this year. Right now. Not later. See above on SRO. That is how a crisis is handled. Treat it like forest fire and act like in an emergency if that is what gets the job done. 

A reporter recently said that candidates in the election were making promises that had no basis in reality because they were never fully costed or assessed as being possible. In fairness, many on council don't even get good budget numbers as they seem reserved only for the mayor and executive policy committee. How decisions get made sometimes doesn't even get to the mayor's office. 

Still, the above should be achievable through zoning and management of fire and police. The city doesn't have to build thousands of units of housing on their own. It can come through zoning. Extraordinary spending is not needed. Just stop driving the lowest cost of housing to extinction thinking you are cleaning up the city. This power lies within the city and with council to do this.