BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon slammed Premier David Eby for coming up with public safety measures only now.

Falcon said: “What was announced today could have been done at any point over the past five-and-a-half years while David Eby was Attorney General, but instead he stood by and did nothing while the problem exploded out of control and countless British Columbians became victims of violent crimes.”

He added: ‘“More than 900 innocent people have been violently attacked by strangers in Vancouver alone since the BC Liberals first called on David Eby to issue a directive to Crown prosecutors and end his harmful catch and release policy for repeat criminal offenders.”

Falcon said in a statement: “It’s clear that what was announced this morning had been prepared for months and was withheld for David Eby to opportunistically take the credit. For David Eby to play politics with public safety is unconscionable.

“While some of what was announced today is what we have called for, such as an expanded Car program of police and mental health response teams, we know it is a classic NDP tactic to make an announcement and pretend it equates to action. What matters is results and that’s what British Columbians are looking for.

“That last time that David Eby was under pressure to finally do something he promised ‘creative solutions’ and made a big announcement. That was over six months ago and it changed nothing.

“It’s laughable for him to pretend to be ‘Mr. Fix-It’ on a file that he’s overseen for over five years since day one of this two-term NDP government.

“Given the premier’s soft-on-crime record, we’re still waiting to see substantive action on the public safety issues plaguing countless B.C. communities.”