Rarely does a day go by when there is not a news story about crime or disorder in a downtown or main street in BC. Open drug use, encampments on busy commercial streets, constant retail theft, vandalism, and random acts of violence appear commonplace.
Ten years ago, this was seen as a Vancouver downtown eastside issue. Today we see it in communities large and small around BC; indeed, this is the major issue facing downtowns and main streets across North America. We all know the main root cause; people suffering from mental health and addictions and the criminal element that preys upon them.
We also know that for years we have tried, with all the right motivations, to help this population through community-based services and harm reduction strategies. We have heard if we just do MORE of what we are doing things will improve. For many who work downtown, shop or dine downtown, or live downtown, the results have been the opposite.
The impact has been immeasurable. The narrative for downtown Victoria has been that downtown is unsafe, violent, and is dying. The same narrative exists in many communities in BC. This has a huge negative impact on small and medium-sized businesses. These businesses rely on local customers, and on those customers to make the trip downtown.
So, what to do?
We know much of the downtown street crime and disorder stems from people suffering from mental health and addictions, fueled by the criminals that feed on this despair. The provincial government is responsible for the delivery of both health care and Crown prosecution.
First: Recognize that by almost any measure, the current focus on community-based services is NOT working. Neither for the people suffering and dying on our streets, or the communities in which these community services are provided.
It is time for meaningful investment in secure care for those suffering the most, who are incapable of maintaining any normal housing or accessing services in the community. Long-term residential care, with the sole focus on detox and treatment, is needed. The immediate result would be a much healthier and safer environment for those in need, even if they do not ‘want’ the help. The second result would be a reduction in the low-level criminal element that currently has a field day exploiting this population. Finally, we would see an immediate and steep drop in street disorder issues.
Second: The current catch and release criminal justice system has failed Canadians. Persons with dozens of criminal convictions for theft, disorder, etc. are arrested but then immediately released; in many cases they simply repeat offend in direct contravention of their bail conditions, get arrested, and are then again immediately released. This is unacceptable. Businesses, their staff, and customers should be the priority and deserve to feel safe.
The federal government must immediately further amend the legislation regarding bail, to ensure that repeat offenders (not just violent offenders, as the current legislation specifies) that plague our downtowns are held in custody pending trial. Once convicted, the sentences must first consider public safety for these offenders, then look at options around rehabilitation and so forth. Again, this one change would create a dramatic improvement in the level of lawlessness we see on some of our streets, as this numerically small group of chronic repeat offenders has the most impact.
Businesses and communities are exhausted. They feel as though the only focus, concern. and effort has been on the street population. If this approach had been effective there would be no issue. But for most communities, the problems are getting worse.
It is time for bold action to support the tens of thousands of people who own, run, staff, and frequent our largest provincial employer: the small business sector. It is time for the needs of their staff and customers to come first.
It is time to make bold choices around involuntary care for the most marginalized, to focus on detox and treatment, and to invest in the health of every member of our community. It is time for action.
Jeff Bray is a former member of the BC Legislature and CEO of the Downtown Victoria Business Association.