Chilliwack MLAs are outraged that Chilliwack's crime rate has earned the dubious distinction of being the highest in the country, based on numbers from Statistics Canada.
Progress readers learned on Tuesday (July 22) that Chilliwack had topped the crime rate in Canada for 2024, among census metropolitan areas, with 11,352 incidents per 100,000 people and a crime-severity index of 141.7.
The MLAs argue in their news release on Friday (July 25) that the real story is that the police-reported numbers "follow years of escalating crime, failed justice reform, and drug policies" from the NDP government which have only made things worse.
鈥淐hilliwack families are living with the consequences of a system that has completely failed them,鈥� said 脕鈥檃:l铆ya Warbus, MLA for Chilliwack鈥揅ultus Lake in the release.
鈥淧eople are afraid to walk alone at night, properties are being broken into, and repeat offenders are cycling through the system with no accountability," said Warbus. "The NDP has let public safety crumble, and their failed drug experiment is making it worse.
"It鈥檚 time to restore consequences, rebuild care, and end policies that enable an environment ripe for crime.鈥�
The numbers aren't an anomaly.
鈥淗ow did we become the most dangerous city in Canada?" asked Heather Maahs, MLA for Chilliwack North. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 a blip. These numbers have been bad for years and the NDP still has no plan to turn it around.鈥�
Despite efforts at the local level, including added RCMP positions, provincial mismanagement has allowed crime to spiral, said the MLAs' release. They say it points to "a broken justice system and failed policies that continue to fuel disorder and fear."
鈥淧olicing alone can鈥檛 fix a broken system,鈥� added Warbus.
鈥淲e need to tackle the root causes such as proper addictions treatment, housing, and a justice system that actually protects communities.鈥�
