CRIME IN QATHET PART II: Speaking to Nicholas Simons

Crime, Courts & Corrections: Why qathet’s criminals are bouncing out of jail & what’s coming next

BY ISABELLE SOUTHCOTT AND PIETA WOOLLEY

What are your thoughts on Bill C-75? Was it the right policy to address the over-representation of marginalized groups in jail?

Nicholas • Changes to federal legislation are geared towards promoting fairness in the criminal bail system. These changes have led to some very negative impacts, and alone, they do not address the over-representation of marginalized groups involved in the criminal justice system. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their community, and our overall quality of life and feelings of well-being are negatively impacted if we don’t.

The Province has chosen a multipronged approach to addressing the over-representation of marginalized groups in jail; we introduced a formal strategy to reduce poverty, which is showing that fewer people in BC are living in poverty -with work ongoing. We introduced legislation geared at reducing systemic racism; we have increased the budget for law enforcement and prosecutions, and we have invested in improving public and post-secondary educational outcomes.

In addition to these important strategies, we have strengthened programs to help those being released from jail to transition back into society, and, critically importantly, we are continuing to create a comprehensive program to address mental health and addictions challenges which have increased during the pandemic. The Province is also building a record amount of housing.

MLA David Eby, the Premier-designate, is the same person who put out the dumpster fire at ICBC leading to lower rates and rebates, who successfully sued big Pharma for financial costs associated with the opioid crisis, who was instrumental in getting big corporate and union donations out of politics, and who took on the massive criminal money laundering organizations.

He is tasked with addressing the rise in crime associated with repeat offenders, and, as Attorney-General, asked for, and received, expert advice on the best strategies to address the Provincial elements of the problem. The Province has begun implementing the report’s recommendations. Premier-designate Eby has acknowledged that this remains a focused priority.

OUR REP IN VICTORIA: MLA Nicholas Simons is at the centre of these issues, as Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, a role he’s had since 2020. This is the Provincial NDP’s second term in office; they’ve been in since 2017.

Is the current crime situation here in qathet acceptable to you?

Nicholas • There is no acceptable crime situation here or anywhere. Certain types of offenses have been increasing and reported in communities across all provinces and territories, so governments, law enforcement, and communities in general have a challenge on their hands.

The housing-first policy is not a crime prevention program.

Do you have any personal experience with crime, courts and corrections?

Nicholas • I have been the victim of property and violent crime and have family members and friends who have been as well. I have worked in many areas of the criminal justice system from crime prevention, legal education,, victim and witness assistance, to prisoners’ rights.

I have supported constituents who have committed offenses, been victims of offenses, and others who have had interactions with law enforcement. I was the Chair of the Police Act Reform Committee prior to my Cabinet appointment.

Much of my pre-politics career was devoted to responding to concerns of child abuse and neglect and I have two university degrees in Criminology.

Anything else you’d want to add on courts and corrections – or the Province’s role in reducing this crime wave?

Nicholas • Whenever there is a new threat to the safety and security of our communities, we may be motivated by our emotional response, but our response must be the implementation of good public policy.

In the short-term, recognizing that current federal bail policy has failed, we should focus on fixing it – which is what all the Premiers told the federal government recently at a meeting in Halifax.

In addition to other recommendations of the recent expert report on repeat offenders, the Province is bringing back a successful program, cut by the previous government, called the “prolific offender management program”; we are addressing complex health-care needs for those in the criminal justice system; hiring peer-support workers; and ensuring that our criminal justice system – from police to courts to corrections – continue to have the capacity to address the changing patterns of crime in our communities.

An end to surging crime: Part 2

This article is the second in qathet Living magazine’s three-part series on crime in this region.

Part 1 explored the crimes themselves: what is happening, and what is the impact on this community?

Part 2 dives in to courts and corrections: how changes to our justice system are playing out locally.

Part 3 asks what those who are perpetrating the crimes need to be able to stop harming this community and themselves, and re-join society.

We hope these stories help inform the current conversation about crime, justice, addiction, and solutions. And, we hope to hear from you.

Please send letters (ideally before the 20th of the month) to isabelle@prliving.ca.