McGuinty Hiding Real Crime Stats – Runciman
(Queen’s Park) – In the wake of information that a third suspect arrested in the murder of an 11-year-old Toronto boy was out on bail at the time of the offence, former Solicitor General Bob Runciman (MPP Leeds-Grenville) is calling on Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty to reveal real numbers – not “phoney rates” – of crime in Ontario and the people involved.
Media reports today indicate that the 3rd suspect, at the time of the shooting, was on two separate bail orders, both with conditions of house arrest.
“This tragedy is the poster child for the failures of our justice system and Mr. McGuinty’s unwillingness to shine a light on what’s happening in our courts, who is making the decisions and the status of people involved in serious, violent crimes,” charged Runciman.
“The people of Ontario have a right to know how many crimes are being committed by people on bail, probation, parole, conditional sentence, 810.2 orders or subject to criminal deportation,” said Runciman.
“Mr. McGuinty owes Ontarians an explanation for his government voting down John Tory’s legislation, Truth & Transparency in the Justice System Act, that would have started to get at this vital information,” argued Runciman.
Runciman also criticized Attorney General Michael Bryant for using the throwaway line about banning handguns as a solution to a rash of shootings and murders in Toronto this summer.
“That comment demonstrates that he’s not up to the much tougher challenge of identifying who are committing these crimes and what we can do to prevent them,” said the veteran MPP. “If you want to fix a situation, you have to confront the truth, not conceal it.”
