CONSERVATIVE BILL WOULD END FREE RIDE
MB PCs endorse federal crackdown while the NDP coddle criminals
Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen applauds proposed amendments to the Criminal Code unveiled today by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to crack down on auto theft, and hopes NDP Premier Gary Doer finally takes a stand against his own party, which has consistently opposed or watered-down Conservative legislation that targets this plague.
“Manitoba leads Canadian provinces in auto theft. Premier Doer cannot talk out of both sides of his mouth anymore, telling Manitobans one thing and his NDP comrades another,” McFadyen said. “We’re calling on the premier today to clarify his position on the matter: Does he side with his party in opposition of tough auto theft legislation or does he side with Progressive Conservatives and Manitobans in support of it?”
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, auto theft costs Canadians $1.2 billion per year, in addition to being a public safety hazard. Despite that, the NDP refuses to take this crime seriously, voting against or softening legislation in Ottawa to punish these criminals and canceling a bait car program here in Manitoba designed to catch hoodlum joyriders in the act.
“Crime is the Number One concern of Manitobans but it isn’t even on the NDP radar,” said Manitoba PC justice critic Gerald Hawranik. He points to March 29, 2008 as an example of the NDP being out of touch when it comes to crime.
“In the span of a few hours, a Winnipeg cab driver was killed by a stolen SUV and six people were gunned down at a house party by hooded hooligans and the NDP MP for the area where these crimes occurred had nothing to say about either, but rather called for the abolishment of the penny. The NDP MLAs for the same area also said nothing, nor did the justice minister. Manitobans deserve better.”
During this session of the legislature Hawranik plans to introduce a bill that will prohibit car thieves and their families from reaping MPI benefits if they’re hurt or killed during the commission of their crime.
Click here to watch an April 2, 2008 Global TV news report featuring Gerald’s comments on car thieves being covered by Autopac Insurance.