Jeff Burgar
In Cold Lake, AB, the mayor says that city of 16,000 people has hired private security. He adds police have also been “directed to charge more people who don’t abide by the bylaws.”
“If we don’t take this approach,” he says, “you’re rewarding bad behaviour, right?”
Meanwhile, both Peace River and Slave Lake are among many communities across Canada dealing with their own versions of drug abuse, homelessness, petty theft and all the ills that come along with what many people are simply calling out what they are: target rich environments.
The target of course, hapless communities told to fend for themselves against a rising tide of criminality. All while provincial and federal governments appear totally useless against the flood.
Good citizens and businesses of Slave Lake are peeling off $84,000 to pay for another two months of an experiment with a private security force. Peace River is coughing up $240,000 for a three-month similar trial.
Meanwhile, Cold Lake customers at the McDonald’s drive-through window have food grabbed right from their hands by people running by. The Edmonton Sun reported the Cold Lake Tim Hortons had a staffer attacked by a person who smeared feces all over the bathroom walls. The same report has people living in sheds at Home Hardware. Businessess now lock their doors during daytime hours. Customers knock on the door.
High Prairie has some citizens called the “Bridge Crew.” That’s for their habit of convening underneath the Highway 2 bridge across the small river on the west side of town. A few weeks ago, a public meeting brought a litany of complaints against policing and local government. High Prairie is taking a ‘wait and see’ approach. Waiting to see just how bad “bad will get.” Are you freaking kidding me?
It might be called a symptom of our times, but at the meeting people got suggestions how to protect themselves against criminals. It is a harsh reminder of the Maritime farmer who was on national news for talking, after losing equipment and vehicles, installing cameras and taking other steps to guard his property. Speaking of which, rampant vehicle theft in major cities has also brought suggestions how owners can add disabling features to their vehicles, and other measures how to keep their property.
Amazingly, one enforcement officer advised homeowners confronted with, “Just give them your keys.”
That’s how low we have sunk, and still sinking!
Why not just leave the keys right in the vehicle? And for good measure, fill it with your jewelry, stereo gear and anything else you think is of value. When you have nothing left, maybe the bad guys will finally get the message to leave you alone!
Probably, most people are all in favour of taking steps to look after themselves and their belongings. But it sure would be nice to know our governments of all levels are not just nodding and tsk-tsking about this whole mess, and are actually ready to do something meaningful.
Right now, it’s all a bad, sickening, downward spiralling joke on honest people.