Safer B.C.: restoring public safety and putting communities first
Greg Kyllo
Media Release - MLA Greg Kyllo
Just last weekend, three innocent bystanders were stabbed, unprovoked, in Vancouver’s Chinatown at a family event. I was enraged to later learn that the suspect had been on an unsupervised day-release from psychiatric facility.
Stories like this have become far too common recently. I'm sure you've noticed it too — things have changed and nearly every day we hear new stories of random acts of violence in our province. Over the past six years, we've seen public safety take a hit, leaving many worried about their communities, loved ones and property.
Truth is, David Eby’s approach to public safety just isn't working. We're witnessing a concerning 75 percent increase in the rate of no-charge assessments, meaning people arrested for serious crimes are often released without any consequences. It's like a broken record, with chronic repeat offenders slipping through the cracks, and it's the law-abiding folks who are paying the price. For example, last year the same group of 40 individuals were responsible for a staggering 6,385 negative police interactions.
This is why Kevin Falcon, leader of our BC United Caucus, recently announced his “Safer B.C.” plan, explaining exactly what a BC United government would do to get us out of David Eby’s mess.
Our first step? Committing to rolling up our sleeves to fill the existing 500 police vacancies across the province. We'll provide the resources needed to attract and retain more officers, including hiring bonuses and housing allowances to make their lives a bit easier. Plus, we'd be expanding police training opportunities right here in B.C., so new recruits can train where they'll serve.
We're also taking a stand against the reckless decriminalization of illicit drugs. It's time to put an end to this failed experiment and ensure our public spaces, like parks and playgrounds, remain drug-free.
But our plan doesn't stop there. Building on our previously announced “Better is Possible” mental health and addictions policy, we believe in alternative sentencing and rehabilitation. People facing sentencing will have a choice between traditional incarceration or secure treatment. We must be building new facilities and repurposing existing spaces to provide secure addiction and mental health services within correctional institutions. Our goal is to help people reintegrate into society with the support they need, with compassion, keeping them and the wider community safe.
Kevin Falcon’s plan takes every crime seriously, from shoplifting to vandalism, unlike the current system. The plan restores accountability, ensuring that all crimes have consequences, while expanding community service options for minor offenses, promoting a more balanced approach to justice.
Lastly, we must go after drug traffickers who cause death through civil litigation. Just like servers can be held accountable for drunk driving, we believe drug dealers should face serious consequences for selling lethal drugs.
David Eby’s approach to crime and public safety simply isn’t working for our province. But the "Safer B.C." plan is BC United and Kevin Falcon’s commitment to you. It's about bringing back safe neighborhoods, protecting our youth, and removing drugs, organized crime, and gangs from our streets. It's about putting our communities, and the well-being of everyday British Columbians, first — and that's what Kevin Falcon is here to do.
Last week, BC United Leader Kevin Falcon announced his 'Safer B.C.' plan to restore public safety, close David Eby’s revolving door of justice, and put the interests of law-abiding British Columbians first. It builds on BC United’s ‘Better is Possible’ mental health and addictions plan announced earlier this year.
