Rob Anders, Conservative MP of Calgary-West, hosted a ‘Tough on Crime’ town hall meeting Monday night at Ambrose College. The keynote speaker was Shelly Glover, MP for Saint Boniface, Manitoba. Glover is a former Winnipeg Police Officer. As a first time MP, elected in 2008, her main area of focus is ‘standing up for victims of crime’.

Glover introduced herself by saying, “I am here to inform you what we as Conservatives are doing to make you safe”.  She then stated that, “Since 2006 we have had a heck of a time getting other parties onside with our desire to reform our criminal justice system. We have a prime minister who is committed to ensuring we are tough on crime. We protect victim rights rather than the accused”. Glover reiterated that we need sentences that deter people from ‘doing this again’ and to teach others about the consequences of such actions.

Shelly Glover, far right

“We believe there are three areas we need to address to deal with the drug problem. A third of the money goes to education. A third of the money goes towards enforcement. And we want to treat the people who are addicted. You don’t hear about this often. You hear that Conservatives just want to lock people up and throw away the key, not true,” said Glover.

Frustratingly Glover said, “We have upwards of 20 crime bills, only 1 has been made into law, the organized crime bill (C-14). We have been blocked the whole way. If an election happens, everything is wiped off the table. We cannot have an election”.

Rob Anders surprisingly and unfortunately said few words last night. He did though quote Adam Smith, who said, “Penitentiaries are more valuable than palaces because in order to guarantee the law of contract and civil society you have to operate in a society without threat to yourself or your property. When you take someone who violates that and put them in the penitentiary you make it safer for everybody else. That has tremendous cost savings and benefits to society”.
 
Glover added by saying that, “Tough on crime bills will not cost much more money. Our government is prepared to pay the cost because it is the right thing to do for Canadians”. After two hours though, Glover, nor Anders for that matter, mentioned any statistics or evidence that tough on crime lowers the crime rate. The debate on crime is all ideology and perception.

In response to the cost of tough on crime initiatives, Anders asked whether we should spend money on the Wheat Board, the gun registry, on corporate welfare, or spend money on criminals to put them in jail? Everyone in attendance said the latter. “Putting in money to make sure the people who do the crime pay the time is a wise use of taxpayer dollars,” said Anders. A person in the crowd then asked why the Conservatives themselves have given out corporate welfare? This question was not answered. Of note, because of the previous town hall meeting getting out of control, everyone had to write their questions on a piece of paper.  

Attendees were very concerned about the legalization of marijuana. Glover responded by saying that, “Most often prostitutes become prostitutes because their pimps get them into drugs. They start with marijuana and they move them into something more addictive. Marijuana is a gateway drug. Many people believe they are responsible dope smokers, my sister was one of them. My sister one day at a party decided that since she had been smoking pot so long, she could try something a little stronger. My sister tried crack and became addicted. I will never support marijuana being legalized” (much applause in the audience).

Funny how alcohol is also a gateway substance too, but no complaints about that here. Again there was no statistics given on how many people who smoke marijuana get addicted to harder drugs. My guess is that it is pretty low.

Glover told the audience about the organized crime bill (C-14). “Organized crime is killing our families. They are making so much money getting us hooked to drugs, getting us involved in their gangs. Whoever said crime doesn’t pay? I can tell you right now it is paying these gangs. We want to target their profit. Murders in connection with gangs will be automatically charged with first degree murder and you will not be eligible for parole for 25 years”. The loudest applause of the night was in response to Glover’s question of whether there is a problem in Calgary with drive by shootings.
 

I began to ask myself who here had even been near a drive by shooting? When I looked around the room I saw mostly seniors and most of them looked very well off. I doubt very much that gangs are roaming through their neighbourhoods. But their fear is real. Seniors are scared and their worries are many.

The repeal of the gun registry was another top concern in the crowd. One person asked if the Conservatives were going to create a homeowners bill for the right to defend their property without repercussion (this one produced a lot of laughter in the crowd). Another asked why someone should have to testify if you kill someone trespassing on your property. I got the feeling that protecting one’s possessions is a pretty big concern in this crowd. I wonder if it ever dawned on these people why people steal in the first place?

Another hit with the crowd was deporting criminals. One asked how we make sure that those, like Jackie Tran, would be shipped back home? (I was tempted to shout out that someone should allege that Tran is a commie and he would be out of here in a second). One questioner was concerned with immigrants who commit crimes and get free room and board and legal fees.  Glover responded by saying that, “We are considered to one of the nicest, kindest people in the world”. Someone in the audience piped in that there is another word for that - naive. The next questioner said, “It is a privilege to come to this country, if you do a crime like this business, you’re gone, there are no more chances, you are on the plane back home the next day. We have enough problem dealing with our kids”. The race card is a valuable card in this crowd (99% white).

The most valuable card the Conservatives have is the tough on crime card. They are playing it well and the crowd last night was eating it up.