The Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier for the Province of British Columbia
PO Box 9041
Stn Prov Govt
Room 156 West Annex Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8W 9E1

Dear Premier Campbell:

We wish to commend your positive response to the challenge of violent crime in British Columbia. The Vancouver Board of Trade is committed to working with all levels of government to improve public safety.

According to Statistics Canada 2.7 million violent crimes are committed annually in Canada, directly affecting one person in four. More than 650,000 victims of violent crime suffer injury and, as we know, the situation is worse in Vancouver.

By any measure, such numbers are unacceptable. We stand ready to join with you in pressing Ottawa for overdue and necessary changes in legislation sentencing guidelines and other remedies.

You are right when you say, "this issue must transcend politics. All parties must work together to rid our communities of violent crime." Public safety is everyone’s business.

We, at The Vancouver Board of Trade stand ready to work with you and all levels of government to improve what has become a crisis situation in our community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Don Rix, CM, OBC

Chairman and Chief Elected Officer

/jf