Mayoral candidates speak out on mayhem

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This article was published 24/10/2010 (5079 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SATURDAY night’s shootings occurred just as Winnipeg’s civic election campaign draws to a close this week.

“It shocked all of us and as a parent in the North End, I know my neighbours are afraid, they’re worried, and there’s an outrage and absolute anger in the neighbourhood,” said mayoral candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

“Once and for all, there has to be a new approach to crime in our communities,” said Wasylycia-Leis. “I’m angry and concerned and outraged, too. I’m running for mayor because I want to change that. Enough is enough. We’ve been through too much.”

Mayor Sam Katz reiterated his campaign promise to add 58 police officers and increase their visibility on the streets.

“There’s very little doubt we need police officers walking the beat, which was my pledge to have 20 officers walking the beat. Another 20 officers for the gang unit. Another 18 in patrol cars,” said Katz.

“This demonstrates once again why the Winnipeg Police Association endorsed me as mayor when I made the announcement,” Katz said.

Wasylycia-Leis called for adequate policing on the streets and giving neighbourhoods tools to protect themselves and have the courage to come forward and help police.

“I don’t have all the answers but I do know that if we identify this as a fundamental, critical issue for Winnipeggers and we say we’ve got to have an urgent plan of action that gets right on task immediately, we can start to deal with this.”

Wasylycia-Leis said Monday she will be holding a vigil at 5:30 p.m. night near the corner of Robinson Street and Dufferin Avenue. She said the event will highlight the need for a multi-pronged approach to tackling crime, which means more police officers and working with community groups.

Jenny Motkaluk, who is running to replace the retired Harry Lazarenko as councillor in the Mynarski ward where the shootings occurred, also wants more police patrolling North End streets.

“People are horrified and absolutely stunned” at what is happening in their neighbourhood, said Motkaluk. “The crime in our neighbourhood is overwhelming everything else” including businesses.

“The majority of people in the neighbourhood are not criminals. They’re hardworking citizens. Yet they are being subject to unprecedented levels of crime and violence.”

Mynarski candidate Ross Eadie said more needs to be done to keep kids out of gangs, and the city has to be prepared to spend more money to do it.

“In Finland, I’ve heard they don’t release criminals until they get an education so they have some options when they get out of jail,” Eadie said.

Another candidate, Greg Littlejohn, would like to see police bike patrols as well as foot patrols. There is an increase in crimes being committed from bicycles, he said.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca