Crime

Crime Task Force
Crime in Canada
Kids and Crime
Police Funding
Safe Streets Coalition
Property Crime
A Framework for Action: A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver

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Crime Task Force

The Crime Task Force continues to follow up The Board’s earlier landmark report on property crime. The task force has consulted with knowledgeable authorities in preparation for a renewal of that report. In addition, in co-operation with the Downtown Eastside Task Force, work continues regarding property crime, the problems of drug use and other crime in the city and the devastating effects this is having on the fabric of the community. Crime Task Force

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Crime in Canada

Crime in Canada
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. Read letter to Minister of Justice Robert Nicholson

Misleading crime statistics
Recently Statistics Canada has once again issued a misleading set of statistics concerning crime in Canada. The agency insists on using crimes reported to police to calculate what it refers to as crime rates. Yet other surveys carried out by Statistics Canada show that only about one-third of crimes are reported to police, and that proportion may be declining. Read The Board's letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

We need the most up-to-date figures to combat crime
July 17, 2007 — As Vancouver Board of Trade chairman Henry Lee has noted, only about one-third of actual crimes in Canada are reported to police. Yet police statistics are widely quoted as representing actual crime rates. Read Province article and Vancouver Sun article: Border searches are a fair tradeoff to ensure public safety.

Criminal Victimization Surveys
July 3, 2007 — We are writing to request that the Government of Canada direct Statistics Canada to carry out the Criminal Victimization Survey on an annual basis. Read The Board's letter to The Hon. Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry.

Board of Trade calls on Dion for action against crime as he delivers pre-budget speech
March 13, 2007 — The Vancouver Board of Trade called on opposition Leader Stéphane Dion to deal with Canada's increasing crime problem as he gave a major pre-budget speech to The Board, during his national tour just days before the Conservatives deliver their second budget. Read The Board's media release, Crime Briefing Notes (PDF/359kb) and event summary.

Bills C-10, C-27, C-35
February 22, 2007 — According to Statistics Canada’s Criminal Victimization Survey, there were more than eight million criminal offences in Canada in 2004... There are three bills currently before Parliament that we strongly believe should be passed to help curb the problem. Read The Board's letter to The Hon. Stephen Harper and Proposed Resolution for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce 2006: Crime in Canada (PDF/114kb).

Use of closed circuit television for public safety
November 17, 2006 — We recently met with visiting senior police officials from the United Kingdom to learn about their experience with the use of closed circuit television in public places to promote public safety and combat crime. Read The Board's letter to Mayor Sam Sullivan and council.

Policy Forum: Battling crime in Vancouver
October 25, 2006 — View event summary and presentations: CRIME IN CANADA, CRIME IN VANCOUVER: An update (PDF/103kb), KIDS 'N CRIME: Report on the Development and Prevention of Criminality Among Children and Youth (PDF/115kb) and report (PDF/868kb).  

"Gaps" in justice system need attention, CBA president says
September 19, 2006 — Canada's criminal justice framework needs to be regularly examined and adjusted to ensure it protects society, said Raymond Protti, president and CEO of the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA). Read event summary.

Landmark crime and health-care resolutions become national policy at Canadian Chamber AGM
September 16-18, 2006 — Landmark crime (PDF/114kb) and health-care resolutions proposed by The Vancouver Board of Trade were passed to become national policy for chambers across the country at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting held September 16-18, 2006 in Saskatoon. Read more...

Property and violent crime rates higher than U.S. and Vancouver number one for property crime, says Toews
May 26, 2006 — The Conservative government is going to get even tougher on crime now that both violent crime and property crime rates are higher in Canada than the U.S., Federal Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada, Vic Toews, assured The Board of Trade today. Read The Board's media release.

Crime in Canada: An open letter to The Hon. Vic Toews, Minister of Justice and Attorney General
May 25, 2006 — 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. Read The Board's letter.

Victims tell the crime story
March 27, 2006 — In the March 13 edition of the Ottawa Citizen, columnist Dan Gardner was critical of The Vancouver Board of Trade's recent letter to the prime minister on crime. He dismissed the seriousness of crime in Canada and made light of its impact on victims. Why would anyone want to do that when Statistics Canada reports that victims suffered more than eight million criminal acts in Canada in 2004? Read Board of Trade chairman Daniel F. Muzyka's article in the Ottawa Citizen.

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Kids and Crime

KIDS 'N CRIME: Report on the Development and Prevention of Criminality Among Children and Youth
October 24, 2006 — Factors impacting children from before birth to adulthood can have serious psychological effects. In this report, numerous impacts are charted in relation to their potential influence on youth and how they can contribute to adverse development leading to criminal behaviour. View/download report (PDF/868kb) and presentation (PDF/115kb).

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Police Funding

Increase in numbers of police
February 27, 2007 — The Vancouver Board of Trade believes that there is a serious need to increase the number of personnel in the Vancouver Police Department. The high crime rate in the City of Vancouver places a heavy load on the Police Department, with the ratio of crimes to police strength significantly higher than for most other major cities in Canada. Read letter to Mayor Sam Sullivan and council.

Vancouver Police Department staffing increase
May 2005 — In the recent budget, City Council approved a dramatic increase in the number of personnel in the Vancouver Police Department. The combined sworn and civilian staffing increase represents the largest single increase of this nature ever.

Submission to city council re: police in city budget
March 22, 2006 — Last year, a report to city council identified a strong need for nearly 100 addditional officers to be added to the Vancouver Police Department. In response, council committed to adding 50 officers, and in principle committed to adding another 50 officers in 2006. We believe it is imperative that the 50 additional officers are recruited and added to the force — otherwise, the crime that is rampant in Vancouver will not be dealt with effectively. View The Board's presentation to city council.

2005 City operating budget — presentation to council
March 17, 2005 — The Board of Trade agrees with most of the City budget recommendations, in particular the addition of resources to the Vancouver Police Department. View The Board's presentation to Vancouver City Council and related material.  

Vancouver's police resources are inadequate, says The Board
January 20, 2005 — The Board urges city council to allocate the funds required to substantially increase the number of police officers in the current city budget-planning process. Read The Board's letter to Mayor Campbell. 

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Safe Streets Coalition

Report of the Street Crime Working Group
November 1, 2005 — The report of the Street Crime Working Group outlines promising steps towards improving the way chronic offenders are dealt with. Read The Board's letter to B.C. Attorney General Walley Oppal.

New Safe Streets legislation now in effect
January 27, 2005 — The Safe Streets Coalition welcomes today’s announcement that the Safe Streets Act and Trespass Amendment Act are now fully in force. The Coalition is working to ensure the implementation of new legislation passed by the province in 2004. Read media release.

Property Crime

If you leave it, thieves won’t’ – Sponsors needed to back police campaign
October 5, 2007 - Chairman Henry Lee led a Vancouver Board of Trade delegation to the Vancouver Police Department headquarters today in support of its new campaign against vehicle break-ins. More…

Board applauds initiative to combat public disorder in Vancouver
November 27, 2006 — The Vancouver Board of Trade commends Mayor Sam Sullivan and Vancouver City Council for their leadership in addressing the burning problem of crime and public disorder in Canada and Vancouver with the "Project Civil City" initiative, announced today. Read media release and related letter from business coalition, "Crisis in Vancouver" (PDF/4,356/kb).

Sustained police, judicial action needed on drugs
January 5, 2006 — While national attention in the federal election has shifted to drug-related violent crime, Vancouver continues to be in denial. We are told that the gun-toting drug lords in our streets are really just a symbol of a health problem, but it's not a health issue — it’s part of a chain of criminal activity, and it will not be solved by providing free ping-pong centres. Read Victor Godin's letter to The Vancouver Sun.

Five per cent of criminals commit 80 per cent of crime in Vancouver
October 18, 2005 — According to Jamie Graham, chief constable of the Vancouver Police Department, a small portion of criminals is responsible for the majority of crime committed in Vancouver. "The biggest issue for us is outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions," said Graham, a panelist at The Board's latest Policy Forum on crime in the city. Read event summary and The Board's updated report on crime (PDF/2,141kb).

2004 Report on Property Crime
October 26, 2004 — "The changes are coming," said chief constable Jamie Graham of the Vancouver Police Department, at today’s Policy Forum^TM on crime in Vancouver. Panellists agreed — there are many changes afoot in the city that are making a difference in the incidence of crime. View event summary and presentation: Property Crime in Vancouver (PDF/2,142kb).  

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A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION: A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver

The Downtown Eastside/City Drug Policy Task Force is continuing its work by exploring the need for strengthened prevention and treatment of drug addiction. In co-operation with the Crime Task Force, work has continued on aspects of the "four pillars" approach the City of Vancouver has adopted towards the drug problem and the fifth pillar (economic redevelopment) that The Board advocates.

City Hall proposed a four-pillar approach to drug problems in Vancouver: prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm reduction. Read report: A Framework for Action: A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver (PDF/515kb). In response to the City's proposed strategy, The Board formed a task force to review the report. 

April 16, 2003 — Letter to the Vancouver Police Department's Chief Constable Jamie Graham, congratulating the VPD for its initiative on the Downtown Eastside.

March 1, 2001 — The Board's letter to Mayor Owen, response to City of Vancouver Report titled Framework For Action: A Four-Pillar Approach to Drug Problems in Vancouver.

March 19, 2001 — Board task force responds to city drug strategy — view media release.

November 8, 2001 — Letter to The Vancouver Sun from Dennis Farrell of the Addictive Drug Information Council pointing out inaccuracies in recent article, "Enough of studies, it’s time to end war on cannabis."

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