May 25, 2006

AN OPEN LETTER TO
The Honourable Vic Toews
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Government of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A OA6

DELIVERED BY HAND

Dear Mr. Toews:

Re: Crime in Canada

The Vancouver Board of Trade strongly agrees with your government that crime in Canada is a very serious problem that requires urgent action.

According to Statistics Canada’s Criminal Victimization Survey, there were more than eight million criminal offences in Canada in 2004, directly affecting one person in four. There were more than 2.7 million violent crimes, which inflicted over 650,000 physical injuries.

This survey is carried out every five years. Compared to the 1999 survey, the 2004 survey shows: "... no significant change in self-reported rates of violent victimization, namely sexual assault, robbery or physical assault. However, rates rose by 24% for theft of personal property, 42% for theft of household property and 17% for vandalism. The only type of offence to show a significant decline was breaking and entering, where rates fell by about one-fifth."

In comparison with other developed countries, crime rates in Canada are relatively high. The United Nations International Crime Victims Survey of 17 industrialized countries in 2000 placed Canada in the "high risk" group for violent-contact crimes, worse than the United States, where the violent crime rate has dropped significantly since 1999. Canada’s has stayed virtually the same.

A problem with respect to crime statistics is that the Criminal Victimization Survey is carried out by Statistics Canada only once every five years (the similar survey in the United States is conducted annually). As a result, the media tend to pay a good deal more attention to annual reports of crimes reported to police. These reports are misleading, since they account for only about one third of total crimes in Canada. Unreported crimes include serious offences such as sexual assault, where victim surveys show that 88 percent of these particular crimes are not reported to police.

We believe that Statistics Canada should be directed to carry out the Criminal Victimization Survey annually and be provided with the funds to do so. This would give policy-makers a better measure of actual crime rates in Canada.

With respect to crime reduction, Canada needs to deal more strongly with chronic property crime offenders who routinely receive light sentences which do not escalate with the number of convictions. Increasing and escalating prison sentences will provide a greater deterrent to these criminals and will at least protect the public by preventing these criminals — who commit most property crimes — from victimizing more citizens.

Research at Stanford University by Steven Levitt, reported in the Journal of Economic Perspectives (2004), shows what has worked to reduce crime in the U.S. Professor Levitt found evidence linking increased punishment to lower crime rates is very strong indeed: "... the increase in incarceration over the 1990s can account for a reduction of about one-third of the observed decline in crime." And, "the increase in police can thus explain somewhere between one-fifth and one-tenth of the overall decline in crime." Ranking similar to increased incarceration, lower birthrates were also reported as a significant factor.

Based on evidence like this and other research by governments and the United Nations, The Vancouver Board of Trade supports a comprehensive approach to crime reduction. This includes:

• More and better treatment for drug addicts;
• Rehabilitation initiatives;
• Better crime prevention measures;
• Education and literacy programs;
• Effective early childhood development programs; and
• improved accountability of the courts.

These measures are more important today than ever. But by themselves, they are not enough. It is also time that policy-makers address:

• New sentencing guidelines that give better protection to the public;
• The need for more police;
• Vigorous prosecution;
• Better measures to deal with gangs and organized crime;
• Less tolerance for drug traffickers and dangerous criminals; and
• Policies that hold people responsible and accountable for their behaviour.

The simple fact is this: If repeat and dangerous offenders are not on the street, they can't break into our houses and businesses, steal our cars and threaten our safety. The justice system needs to focus on the rights and freedoms of victims, as well as the rights and freedoms of criminals.

Crime can no longer be just an academic subject for debate by social scientists; the safety of the public lies in the balance. It needs to become an immediate priority for governments too. We commend you and your government for taking a strong position on this issue.

In summary:

• Crime in Canada is a very serious problem that requires urgent action.
• Only about one-third of total crimes in Canada are reported to police.
• The criminal victimization survey that reports all crimes should be carried out annually rather than just once every five years.
• Between 1999 and 2004, violent crime in Canada did not decline significantly, but property crime increased substantially.
• In comparison with other developed countries (including the U.S.), crime rates in Canada are relatively high.
• Canada’s chronic property crime offenders routinely receive light sentences. These individuals need to be dealt with more strongly, with sentences increasing progressively with the number of convictions.
• Increased incarceration and increased numbers of police are key measure to reduce crime.
• A variety of other measures are needed to achieve long-run reduction in crime.

Sincerely,

Darcy Rezac
Managing Director
The Vancouver Board of Trade

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