Liberal Strategy: Border Crackdown, Police Hiring, and Gun Control

THUNDER BAY – POLITICS 2.0 – Liberal Leader Mark Carney has unveiled a wide-ranging crime strategy aimed at bolstering community safety by cracking down on cross-border smuggling, gang activity, and intimate partner violence. His plan calls for:

• Hiring 1,000 new RCMP and 1,000 CBSA officers, including establishing a new RCMP training academy in Saskatoon.

• Enhanced firearm regulation, including a revitalized buyback program for assault-style weapons and RCMP-led gun classification.

• Justice system support, with added funding for prosecutions and forensic tools, particularly focused on drug trafficking and organized crime.

The proposal walks a line between enforcement and systemic reform—emphasizing bail law tightening, but also investing in mental health supports for first responders and technology like drones and border scanners to target smuggling more precisely.

Conservative Strategy: Harsh Sentencing, ‘Three-Strikes’ Law, and Liberal Blame Game

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre offers a contrasting approach, anchored by a “Three-Strikes-and-You’re-Out” law, which would impose mandatory prison sentences of 10 years to life for repeat violent offenders. The policy includes:

• Stripping eligibility for bail, parole, or house arrest for those convicted of three serious crimes.

• Designation as Dangerous Offenders, with release contingent on rehabilitation milestones like education or trades training.

• Repealing Liberal justice reforms such as Bill C-5 and Bill C-75, which Conservatives blame for a spike in recidivism.

Poilievre pins rising violent crime on what he brands a “Lost Liberal Decade,” citing increases in gang homicides, gun violence, and auto theft.

What the Facts Say: Crime Stats and Context

Fact-checking Poilievre’s claims reveals a more nuanced picture:

• According to Statistics Canada, violent crime did rise 39% from 2015 to 2023, but experts say this is part of a broader post-COVID trend seen across multiple Western democracies—not solely a result of federal policy.

• Bill C-5 and C-75 did remove some mandatory minimums and adjusted bail protocols, but these laws also aimed to reduce systemic discrimination and overcrowding.

• The “59 prior convictions” in the Myles Sanderson case were real, but critics say using one case to generalize systemic failure overlooks complex failures in corrections, parole, and social support networks.

By contrast, gun crime has remained relatively stable nationally but is highly concentrated in urban gang-related contexts, supporting the Liberal emphasis on border and organized crime efforts.

What It Means for Thunder Bay

Both approaches offer pieces of what Northwestern Ontario communities like Thunder Bay need:

• Gun trafficking through the U.S. border and gang activity are real regional concerns, lending some credibility to Carney’s investments in CBSA staffing and crime lab expansion.

• However, repeat offenders and delayed court proceedings are chronic local issues, meaning Poilievre’s promise of stronger bail laws and longer sentences may resonate with victims’ families and police advocates.

Still, the lack of meaningful Indigenous justice reform in either plan is glaring, particularly for a region with high Indigenous populations disproportionately impacted by both crime and policing.

NDP Strategy: Prevention, Community Investment, and Border Security

New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Jagmeet Singh has outlined a crime prevention strategy that emphasizes addressing root causes, investing in communities, and enhancing border security to curb the influx of illegal firearms. Key components of the NDP’s plan include:​

• Rehiring Over 1,100 Border Officers: To tackle the flow of illegal guns into Canada, the NDP commits to reinstating more than 1,100 border officers cut by previous Conservative governments. This move aims to strengthen border security and prevent firearms from entering Canadian communities. ​Canada’s NDP

• Community Investment to Prevent Gang Recruitment: The NDP plans to invest in community programs that provide young people with alternatives to gang involvement. By funding education, employment opportunities, and recreational activities, the goal is to address socio-economic factors that contribute to crime.

• Holistic Approach to Public Safety: Singh emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health, addiction, and poverty as part of a comprehensive crime prevention strategy. This includes investing in affordable housing, healthcare, and social services to support vulnerable populations. ​

Comparative Analysis: Diverse Approaches to Crime Prevention

The crime prevention strategies proposed by Canada’s major political parties reveal distinct philosophies and priorities:​

• Liberals (Mark Carney): Emphasize enforcement through hiring additional RCMP and CBSA officers, implementing gun control measures, and enhancing prosecutorial resources.​

• Conservatives (Pierre Poilievre): Focus on punitive measures, advocating for mandatory minimum sentences, stricter bail conditions, and the repeal of certain justice reforms.​

• NDP (Jagmeet Singh): Prioritize prevention by addressing root causes of crime, investing in community programs, and strengthening border security to prevent illegal firearms from entering the country.​

Each approach offers different solutions to Canada’s crime challenges, reflecting the parties’ underlying values and policy priorities.​

BOTTOM LINE:
As Canadians evaluate these crime prevention strategies, considerations include the balance between enforcement and prevention, the effectiveness of punitive measures versus community investment, and the potential long-term impacts on public safety and social well-being.