Skip to content

LETTER: B.C.’s BIAs call on new councils and other levels of government to take action on crime and safety

“This is a collective crisis, and we need a collective response”
30701081_web1_BIAcranfesthall
Business improvement associations (BIAs) exist in many B.C. communities and not only host events but are involved in public safety and community issues. (Black Press Media files)

Dear Editor,

In other parts of the world, people are fighting to retain their democratic rights, but in B.C we have the power to effect positive change at the ballot box.

In this province, not a day goes by when public safety, violence, property crime and vandalism in our downtowns and main streets aren’t at the forefront of the news headlines. The onus is on voters to demand commitments that will lead to positive action.

Business Improvement Areas of BC (BIABC) represents more than 70 business districts, which collectively encompasses tens of thousands of small and medium-sized businesses that employ hundreds of thousands of people across this province. Together, we are gravely concerned that these public safety issues have reached the tipping point, not just in Vancouver but across the province – in communities like Langley, Abbotsford, and Surrey – on Vancouver Island – and in Northern and Interior centres like Prince George, Quesnel, Kamloops, Kelowna, and Penticton, among others.

We understand this is a complex problem, and there is no single solution. And it’s for that very reason that all three levels of government need to work in collaboration to develop a comprehensive plan and tackle these issues as a matter of urgency.

At the municipal level, BIABC is challenging all candidates in the October civic elections to make a commitment to support core funding that will mitigate main street issues through increased policing resources, street lighting, sanitation, and anti-graffiti programs, as well as stronger bylaw enforcement.

At the provincial level, BIABC recommends the creation of a Special Committee on Public Safety to create and advance a plan that will support individuals dealing with mental health, addictions and/or homelessness, as well as examine alternative justice options, identify short, medium and longer-term measures to address the issue of prolific offenders, and an increase to police resources. Additionally, there is an immediate need for implementation of assistance programs for victims of commercial crime, and improvement to the crime reporting process and response through E-COMM.

At the federal level, BIABC is advocating for the establishment of an all-party committee on downtowns and main streets.

This is time for our elected representatives within all three levels of government to put people and our communities first. This is a collective crisis, and we need a collective response from our elected (and soon to be elected municipal) leaders.

Teri Smith, Business Improvement Associations of BC president

.

• READ MORE: Metro Vancouver short of water in October, asks people to take shorter showers

• READ MORE: Big spike in homeless death rate in 2021

.


Do you have an opinion you’d like to share? Please send us a letter to the editor, including your first and last name, street address, and phone number. Email: news@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.