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Red Deer MP says only Conservative Party standing up against rural crime

MP Blaine Calkins
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Blaine Calkins/MP for Red Deer-Lacombe

MP Blaine Calkins says it was disheartening to see Liberals, NDP, Bloc and Green parties all vote against a bill to create a non-refundable tax credit for Canadians who took measures to make their homes and properties safer from crime.

Bill C-234, a private member’s bill, was tabled by Conservative Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback on Thursday.

“It just proves that these parties are completely out of touch with what is currently happening in rural communities across this province and our country. Crime rates have increased across Canada in recent years and that crime is getting more severe.”

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In 2017, the Alberta Conservative Rural Crime Task Force met with thousands of Albertans to discuss rural crime. One of the recommendations in the task force’s report was the tax credit.

Calkins said one Liberal MP called the bill a “boutique tax credit” and said home security is not something that is a need, or a requirement, especially in a country like Canada.

“This is a woefully inadequate response and an offense to every rural Canadian who has been a victim of rural crime. It is because of the Trudeau Liberal’s soft-on-crime approach that these measures are increasingly necessary.”

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He said Bill C-234 would have made home security options like fencing, lights, cameras and security systems more affordable and more accessible to many Canadians.

“Today’s vote clearly shows that Canada’s Conservatives are the only party concerned with preventing crime. We will continue to table meaningful legislation designed to reduce crime and slow the revolving door of Canada’s justice system.

“Recently I tabled my private member’s Bill C-289 which seeks to create an aggravating factor at sentencing for criminals who target rural residents and properties because of their increased vulnerability due to their remoteness from emergency medical or police services.”



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