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WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Party Official Opposition is challenging the Premier and the Minister of Justice to address the issue of property crime in Whitehorse and throughout the territory.
The time for talking about taking action someday is over. Action is needed now.
Property crime is a daily concern for businesses, community groups, and citizens, as evidenced by increasingly frequent social media posts about break-ins and thefts. Contrary to the Liberal government's claims, this issue is not confined to Whitehorse's downtown core. It is a pervasive problem plaguing neighbourhoods throughout Whitehorse and the surrounding area and impacting rural Yukon.
The Yukon Party has heard from Yukoners about what is needed to address property crime: more resources for the RCMP to catch offenders committing crimes, and to shut down organized criminal gangs. These crimes impact the lives of Yukoners and small businesses and are causing economic hardship for some businesses and individuals.
The territorial Liberal government also needs to act on the recommendations made by the National Police Federation (the union representing RCMP members) regarding bail reform and enforcement and lobby the federal Liberal government to fully repeal the catch-and-release bail provisions it brought in through flawed legislation.
Recently, Whitehorse City Council unanimously passed a motion for the mayor to write a letter to the Minister of Justice requesting the addition of property crime to the Yukon’s policing priorities and to seek more funding for the Yukon RCMP.
“Yukoners and the Yukon Party have been sounding the alarm about this for a long time,” said Official Opposition Justice Critic Brad Cathers. “We have provided tangible actions for the Liberals to take, including providing more resources for the RCMP so they can do more to combat crime and making property crime and downtown safety a part of the government’s yearly policing priorities for the RCMP. Yukoners have had enough, and it is time for the Premier and the Minister of Justice to take real action instead of blaming someone else.”
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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Media Director
(867) 689-7874
