February 11, 2009

REDEPLOYMENT OF POLICE AND JUSTICE SYSTEM RESOURCES

J. Kwan: The Premier has said that there would be redeployment. My question to the minister is this. How many people would be redeployed, from what sector, and where are they going to come from?

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker: Members. Members.

Hon. M. de Jong: It’s because I know the importance that all members attach to this question that perhaps I can be very clear about how the government intends to respond and how it has been responding — a recipe that includes more police, more prosecutors and more jails to put the unsavoury characters that engage in illegal activities in British Columbia streets in jail.

I have also seen the theatrics in this place. I know a thing or two about theatrics. It’s easy to come here and talk the talk. Sometimes it’s tougher to walk the walk. I have trouble reconciling what I hear from this opposition and this opposition leader with what the member

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for Burnaby-Edmonds says when he writes to his paper: "As the MLA for Burnaby, I will continue to fight against the plans for a new jail.”

You can’t have it one way out there and one way in here. More police, more prosecutors and more jails will get this done.

Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental.

J. Kwan: Coming from a government that closed ten correctional centres, that closed 24 courthouses, it is just a bit much for them to suggest that they’re on top of the game.

Let us be clear. The Premier said that he was going to redeploy the resources. So my question is this to the Solicitor General, who supposedly is on top of this file. Where are the deployments going to come from?

Interjection.

Mr. Speaker: Member.

J. Kwan: Is it going to be from the local police force? Is it from school liaison officers? Is it from the theft department? Is it from traffic? Is it from community crime? Is it from property crime?

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Which sector are those officers going to come from to address the gang violence problem that’s happening right under this government’s nose?