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MEDIA RELEASE IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 14, 2010 Report Confirms Victoria Needs to Focus on Crime Reduction January 14, 2010 – Victoria, BC – A third party report on the high crime rate in Victoria supports the chamber’s position that there needs to be more focus on crime reduction in the Capital. “There is a malaise in our downtown and the City has to allocate resources to supporting our police department,” says Bruce Carter, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber. The Conference Board of Canada report gave Victoria a “D” rating in areas of drug and violent crime per 100,000. It also gave the same rating for housing affordability. “While we can’t do a lot about the market conditions that affect housing prices,” says Carter, “we certainly can expect a more assertive approach to dealing with crime reduction. This issue needs to be addressed from all fronts – policing, court processes, and treatment facilities for those who are driven to criminal behaviour because of drug addictions.” The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has approximately 1500 members and is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region. The Greater Victoria Chamber has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. -30- For more information contact: Shannon Renault Bruce Carter Manager Policy Development & Communications Chief Executive Officer Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Cell 250-812-0510 Email: bcarter@gvcc.org Email: srenault@gvcc.org
MEDIA RELEASE
January 14, 2010
Report Confirms Victoria Needs to Focus on Crime Reduction
January 14, 2010 – Victoria, BC – A third party report on the high crime rate in Victoria supports the chamber’s position that there needs to be more focus on crime reduction in the Capital.
“There is a malaise in our downtown and the City has to allocate resources to supporting our police department,” says Bruce Carter, CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber.
The Conference Board of Canada report gave Victoria a “D” rating in areas of drug and violent crime per 100,000. It also gave the same rating for housing affordability.
“While we can’t do a lot about the market conditions that affect housing prices,” says Carter, “we certainly can expect a more assertive approach to dealing with crime reduction. This issue needs to be addressed from all fronts – policing, court processes, and treatment facilities for those who are driven to criminal behaviour because of drug addictions.”
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has approximately 1500 members and is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region. The Greater Victoria Chamber has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
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For more information contact:
Shannon Renault Bruce Carter
Cell 250-812-0510 Email: bcarter@gvcc.org
Email: srenault@gvcc.org