BC Conservative Prince George MLAs have written a letter to NDP Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger demanding provincial action following several arson attacks in the city’s downtown.
“More businesses have been forced to close recently due to fires that have been deemed by the RCMP as arson. Because of the prevalence of structural fires and property crime, many insurers are now declining coverage in the downtown core entirely. It’s a big reason why the downtown business association has stated that the city should be considering a State of Local Emergency,” said Kiel Giddens, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie.
On June 5 RCMP said three recent fire investigations have been confirmed as arson. Prince George RCMP arrested two people in in relation to two of the incidents. The RCMP have also stated there is no indication the three arson fires are related. In early April, RCMP investigated three arson fires in the Crescents area. One person was arrested in connection with one of the fires. RCMP said there is no indication those three fires were related either. In December, an Queensway apartment building was damaged by an arson fire. One person was arrested in connection this that fire. Last September Crossroads Brewing was destroyed by an arson fire. One person was arrested in connection to that blaze.
Cariboo North MLA Sheldon Clare says the NDP created this crisis and is now making business owners pay for it.
“Years of NDP soft-on-crime policies created the conditions that drove businesses to hire private security in the first place,” he said. “Now this government has the audacity to tax them for it. Stop punishing hardworking business owners and start holding repeat criminals accountable.”
The MLAs are calling on the minister to review bail and release practices for repeat offenders, dedicate provincial resources to enhanced downtown enforcement, and meet directly with the business community to deliver a clear plan with measurable timelines.
“Law-abiding Prince George residents and hardworking business owners are paying the price for this government’s failures, while repeat criminals walk free and the NDP looks the other way,” said Rosalyn Bird, MLA for Prince George-Valemount.