Canada, Safe and Secure

"I think policy makers and decision-makers need to realize that there are some very strong sentiments being expressed on these issues [involuntary addiction treatment, criminal charge bail, decriminalization of drugs]."

"We're seeing large percentages of people saying things are getting worse."

"I think there was a perception, correct or not, that safe injection sites would lead to a solution, and those problems are instead amplified probably ten-fold from where they were. So there's this frustration of, 'What else can we do. This isn't working'."

Andrew Enns, executive vice-present, Leger Marketing

 

Little wonder Canadians are fed up. Inflation is raging, the cost of consumer goods sky-high, additional taxes on energy linked to the Trudeau government's environmentalist agenda has sent the price of gas at the fuel pumps soaring, homelessness is a growing concern, and more people than ever before are turning to food banks. Canada's once-proud universal health care system has been gutted; wait times for surgery, for access to medical specialists have become dangerously inadequate. The 911 emergency system is collapsing, ambulances are increasingly late responding to calls, and so are police.

But the latest poll by Leger Marketing looked at other acute concerns of Canadians; that of growing crime rates, of growing addiction rates and consequent deaths from overdosing. Fixes that governments have been relying on have proven to be failures. Leaving the public frustrated and angry. And those sentiments of failed government actions in addressing these societal problems were emphasized on the latest poll.

The status quo is unacceptable and the response of governments has been inadequate to say the least. Canadian public opinion was found through this latest poll to be completely opposite government priorities channelled through programs that have proven to be worthless. The issues of bail, involuntary addiction treatment, and the decriminalization of drugs in a desperate attempt to ease the growing problems in society are topmost in people's minds behind the cost of living.

A clear majority of poll respondents agree the Canadian justice system is mishandling bail, too lenient on violent criminals. Example: the statement "there are too many repeat violent offenders being offered bail" had the agreement of 79 percent of the surveyed. The statement "the justice system is too lenient on offenders who are found to be guilt of committing a violent crime" was endorsed by 79 percent. While less than 32 percent agreed that Canada had a "firm and fair" system of justice.

On the issue of strengthening bail, solid agreement was seen, with 82 percent of Western Canadians, 77 percent of Eastern Canadians, 80 percent of men, 78 percent of women, 81 percent of white Canadians and 71 percent of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) Canadians, reporting that too many violet offenders were given bail. General agreement was seen on the viewpoint that Canada's top priorities on criminal justice should be "violent crime", "illegal firearm possession" and "drug and substance abuse".

 

 

A course has been adopted in Canada of setting aside law enforcement from the equation of drug addiction, prioritizing harm reduction policies with the like of safe consumption sites. Included was British Columbia's experiment in decriminalizing personal use quantities of hard drugs like heroin and cocaine. Canadians indicated a more nuanced view of how Canada's climbing rates of fatal overdose could be addressed.

Major support was expressed (58 percent) for "supervised safe consumption sites", yet almost all respondents wanted to have drug dealers prosecuted and chronic addicts to be mandated to the necessity of treatment. Over 7 in ten respondents opted for "more policing" on drugs, the highest being expressed (at 81 percent) in British Columbia, the recognized epicentre of the overdose crisis. Asked should Canada focus on "identifying and prosecuting those involved in bringing drugs into the community", 86 percent agreed.

"There was one [safe consumption site] when we came into office in 2015, now there are dozens and dozens and dozens across the country and they are saving lives significantly", boasted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He slammed it as "unfortunate" and "anti-science" when Alberta began the pursuit of a treatment-centered approach to address its overdose crisis. His boast is  a hollow sham; lethal overdoses, in the face of 'dozens and dozens' of 'safe injection' sites, are on a pronounced upward curve. Moreover, the 'safe' opioids handed out at the sites are leaking onto the streets.

Although involuntary treatment for chronic addicts has been denounced as extreme by the Canadian political and public health establishment, it was endorsed by 71 percent of poll respondents who agreed "involuntary treatment programs where seriously addicted individuals are required to attend addiction counselling in addition to receiving safe supply", sounded like a solution. 

 

 

As for the criminal justice system reflected by government policy, opinion polls find majority support for capital punishment which since the 1970s was officially abolished in Canada. Incarceration and detention issues have hardened in the wake of recent murders and assaults committed by suspects either on bail or recent early releases from prison. Random fatal stabbings by people on parole for similar random attacks infuriate the public. 

The fatal shooting of an Ontario Provincial Police constable by a repeat violent offender on bail, prompted a letter co-signed by all 13 Canadian premiers urging the federal government to reform bail (the Trudeau government had loosened bail issues after the previous Conservative-led government had tightened them) and take steps to get violent criminals "off the streets". 

Canadian bail policies were described as a system of "catch and release" by over two-thirds of poll respondents, with white respondents at 69 percent and non-white respondents, 68 percent. If offenders keep committing crimes while on bail, in the opinion of the survey respondents, stop giving them bail. 92 percent of poll respondents endorsed the statement "repeat violent criminal offenders should have their access to bail severely restricted or revoked".

Canadians were generally in agreement that the country’s top priorities on criminal justice should be “violent crime,” “illegal firearm possession” and “drug and substance abuse.” Photo by Gavin Young/Postmedia