@ EGR ee: TheReview Wednesday, July 17,1991 — A7 Johnsion got hats mixed up | VICTORIA — In the last week of the Socred leadership campaign, Rita Johnston got her hats mixed up, and not by accident. It was Premier Johnston who announced a far-reaching law-enforcement program, knowing very well that Rita Johnston, the leadership candidate, could only benefit from the initiative. Prudence would have forbidden Johnston to announce any major government program until the leadership contest was over, but politics, I suppose, got the better of her. The announcement is bound to strike a cord with many people. The public is increasingly worried about the rising crime rate. Violence seems to be becoming a way of life in Canada’s major cities. It’s not only domestic violence that has people wormed but the more organized violence perpe- trated by youth gangs and the drug scene. Any promise of relief can’t help but garner support, and support for her quest to stay premier is what Johnston was seeking. The package announced by Johnston is fairly comprehensive and comes with an estimated annual price tag of $10 million. There are four main components to the pack- age: greater police protection, special prosecution units, expanded victim services and stronger ties between police and communities. To offer better police protection, an additional 45 RCMP officers will be hired by October; the Vancouver Criminal Gang Unit will be beefed up; there will be increased intelligence collection, and police throughout the province will be aided by an additional 400 auxiliary police officers. To assist victims of crime, the government will establish more victim programs across the proyv- ince; special programs will be set up to deal with problems peculiar to ethnic groups; victim assis- tance workers will receive better training and police response to domestic violence will be more co-ordinated. On the community-police front, the govern- ment will encourage the expansion of the block- parent and senior-watch programs and launch educational programs to reduce ethnic gang violence. The program didn’t just come out of the blue. Ever since Johnston entered the leadership race, she has stood on the platform of law and order. The promise of a comprehensive law-and order package was made at every delegate-nominating meeting she attended. “This law and order initiative is a clear message that we are determined to deal forcefully with crime so that we can maintain safe commu- nities in British Columbia,” Johnston said when she announced the program. Sexual assault, spousal assault and child sex abuse are also targeted by the program. Exten- sions of services to victims will be financed by a transfer of $1.5 million from the ministry of women’s programs. “Tf we are to stop the vicious cycle of abuse, we must expand our services to victims. Knowledge is the key to prevention, and knowledge is the root of change,” Johnston said. “We’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people using our victim services in the past year, and we know these people want to stop the spread of abuse. By increasing services to them, we expand the safety net that will stop the growth of crime and victimization,” she added. ; Nothing wrong with the program as such. Nobody will argue that money spent on crime prevention is money well spent. The statistics demand action. Police statistics show that the crime rate in British Columbia rose by about six per cent last year. Crimes against property rose by five per cent, which translates into 20,000 more property crimes such as break and enter and theft. Violent crime, which represents about 10 per cent of the total crime rate, has nearly doubled since the late 70s. During that same period, reporting of sexual assaults has more that tripled. Considering those disturbing statistics, more funding for law and order is clearly needed. The only problem I have with the announcement is its timing. All is said to be fair in politics, but it shouldn’t be. To exploit the public’s growing fears over the rising crime rate for personal political gain is somewhat cynical. Why didn’t the government announce such a program in the last budget? The crime statistics were out when the budget was prepared: people were just as fed up then as they are now, but for one reason or another, increased funding for law and order programs was deemed unnecessary. Suddenly, with a week to go until the conven- tion, it became necessary to battle crime. John- ston’s move is not only a little cynical, it’s also unfair to her rivals, They can’t announce govern- ment programs. It was a good-looking hat John- ston wore, but she should have kept it in the closet for another week or so. OPENING AUGUST. THE LORD JAMES OF SIDNEY BRAND NEW AFFORDABLE 27 - 1 Bedroom Condominiums From $78,900 (Including 4.5% G.S.T.) Close to all Amenities. Another Quality Development by COTTAGE GROVE 479-7900 A luxurious Cinema located in the heart of Langford at 7/7 Goldstream. Where, when you take the drive youll find not only better AZ THE LORD yy James 474-2700 downtown. » WEDNESDAYS IS YOUR NIGHT » bring this ad in on Wednesdays & be admitted for $3350 ‘Naked Gun 2 1/2 Now playing in theatre at 7 & 9 p.m. Now playing in theatre [2] Problem Child 2 t 7 ou Jungle Fever Now playing in theatre [3] at 7 p.m. and 9:15 Point Break Home of Hot Ticket Tuesdays (3.50) & 99¢matinees SINCE 1949 Big buck bonanza in eiery in DANCING IN THE PARKING LOT, scream- ing with joy was Irvine Jimmy’s reaction Sunday when he discovered that four numbers on the Extra portion of his Lotto 6/49 ticket matched those drawn. “When I saw I had matched all four numbers I started to jump up and down and screamed and did a little dance around the gas Station parking lot screaming ‘I just won $100,000!’ Then I calmed down a bit and checked the numbers again. I saw that what I had really won was $500,000,” he said: The Saani- chton resident bought his ticket at the Brentwood Bay Pharmacy and plans to buy a new car to replace his 1978 Olds. He and his Lena picked up the cheque Monday. 5 *k xk DATES ARE SET for the next two Country Markets at the Saanichton fairgrounds, spokes- man Andrew Yeoman said. The Aug. 10 market will have a larger amount and wider variety of locally-grown produce, he said. Organizers were overwhelmed by the July 6 market day and apologized to property owners along East Saanich Road who may have been inconvenienced by the traffic. As well, Pony Club members who were using a portion of the fairgrounds also deserve and apology for any disruption they may have experienced, Yeoman said. Next time, there will be more public parking and the front gates will be opened earlier so that roadside parking will be reduced. The North and South Saanich Agri- cultural Society approved the August date and another date, Sept. 14, for the next markets. *x * x * Kk THE FINAL TALLY is in and the people of the Peninsula deserve a big thank you, ALS Flower Day Committee chairman Peter Chance said last week. The 1991 campaign to raise money for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society (Lou Gehrig’s disease) was a great success and, in spite of difficult times in many communities, the citizens opened their hearts and purses to our cause and we came very close to reaching our goal of $50,000, Chance said. Volunteer taggers and service clubs were especially recognized. * Kk DID YOU KNOW that on a hot summer day you can cook a medium-sized roast in your car if it is left in the sun with the windows rolled up? The Victoria SPCA reminds pet owners to leave the pet at home when going shopping. Cats and dogs can die in minutes even if the car is parked in a shaded area. * KX FRAME rock = a OFF OUR @ COMPLETE 4 5% OFF ALL L sun LASSES IN STOCK oe SIDNEY 104 - 2376 BEVAN AVE. Sidney Cente.