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Calkins joins Conservative statement on rural crime

Apr 2, 2018 | 10:01 AM

Red Deer – Lacombe MP Blaine Calkins was one of three Conservative Members of Parliament to issue a joint statement in the House of Commons last week regarding rural crime in Canada.

The statement reads, “Canada’s Conservatives believe that the safety of Canadians must be the number one priority of any government. Unfortunately, due to escalating crime rates in our rural communities, many Canadians do not feel safe in their own homes.”

It went on to say, “Over the past few months, Conservative Members of Parliament held meetings across the country with law enforcement officers, community leaders and concerned citizens. We heard firsthand about the need for a strategy to address rural crime issues, including filling vacant RCMP positions.”

The statement continued, “That is why we are bringing forward Motion 167, which calls on the Public Safety and National Security committee to conduct a comprehensive and current federal assessment of crime rates and trends, an analysis of RCMP, policing and staff resources, along with provincial and municipal partnerships in rural and remote communities across Canada.”

“This motion is an important first step toward making concrete recommendations that will enhance rural crime prevention and reduce emerging crime rates. Canada’s Conservatives will continue to stand up for rural communities and to fight for concrete actions to keep Canadians safe,” concluded the statement.

Other Members of Parliament joining Calkins on the statement included Shannon Stubbs (Lakeland) and Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg – Haute-St. Charles).

Calkins has also teamed up with other Alberta Conservative caucus members to create the Rural Crime Task Force which aims to seek solutions in combatting the alarming rise in Canada’s rural crime rate.

Since January, the Rural Crime Task Force has held several information sessions in communities throughout central Alberta to hear more from victims, local law enforcement, municipal politicians, crime watch groups and victim crime services in hopes of finding those solutions.