July 9, 2024

BALCAEN: NDP Stand Idly By as Retail Crime Worsens in Brandon, Rural Manitoba

The NDP government is ignoring a surging retail crime problem across rural Manitoba by providing new overtime funding only to Winnipeg police to combat store thefts.

This focus strictly on the capital city is handcuffing police in Brandon and elsewhere as they, too, struggle to deal with retail shoplifting, robberies, and the violence that is increasingly coming with it. 

The rapidly worsening thefts and violence against employees and customers have forced businesses to close, damaging Manitoba’s economy and causing job losses. Premier Wab Kinew and the NDP, however, have done nothing outside Winnipeg to assist police in handling the increasing costs of responding to it. 

When I pressed Justice Minister Matt Wiebe in the Legislature this past spring on the issue of retail robberies and thefts in rural Manitoba, he had very little to say and has still taken no action to cover even a portion of the related costs for rural policing. More than a month later, the only solution from Wiebe and the premier is to provide $300,000 for overtime pay for officers in Winnipeg.

The Kinew government’s failure to address Manitoba’s burgeoning retail crime goes beyond police overtime. The NDP made an election commitment last year to invest $2.5 million in a range of business security measures, including cameras, alarm systems, motion detectors, reinforced doors or windows, fencing, and other enhancements. But they’ve provided only $500,000—20% of what was pledged—for a program offering $300 rebates for security camera installations.

Not only have the NDP cut $2 million from its election promise, but its camera rebates are a woefully weak response to Manitoba retailers’ needs. A commercial security system is typically priced at more than $7,000, so a $300 rebate won’t even pay the PST on it.

As well, the camera program will allow only 1,700 Manitobans, or 0.0013% of the province’s population, to receive the rebates that are not targeted specifically to the business sector. If the government were to fulfill its pledge to businesses that really need security improvements, each one would likely receive $1,500 to $2,000.

Retailers and restaurants say that the NDP are not doing nearly enough. The government’s lack of urgency on this crisis is unacceptable, particularly because small firms comprise 97.6% of Manitoba’s businesses and provide much-needed jobs.

A plan and action are needed from Kinew and the NDP, and not only at the shuttered storefronts and locked doors in downtown Winnipeg.

The retail thefts and vandalism occurring regularly in Brandon and rural Manitoba are hurting our province’s business and economic landscape, putting patrons and employees at risk, and endangering our communities.

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