BC Conservative Leader John Rustad on Monday announced his comprehensive plan to restore public safety across the province. With rising crime, rampant addiction, and communities overwhelmed by tent cities, Rustad emphasized that the Conservative Party will reverse the damage caused by the NDP’s reckless policies and bring safety back to BC.

“Under the NDP’s leadership, British Columbians no longer feel safe at home, on the job, or in public spaces,” said Rustad. “David Eby’s policies have emboldened criminals, made our communities less safe, and shattered public trust in the justice system. Enough is enough. A Conservative government will restore law and order, end the NDP’s disastrous ‘catch-and-release’ system, and put the rights of victims first.”

Rustad directly targeted the NDP’s so-called “catch-and-release” approach to criminal justice, which has left violent offenders walking the streets instead of facing jail time.

“The NDP’s approach has turned neighborhoods into danger zones, where violent offenders are free to roam,” Rustad said. “Under a Conservative government, bail offenders and violent criminals will be behind bars, not on the streets.”

The Conservative Party of BC will:

1. Toughen the Charge Assessment Guidelines to crack down on bail offenders, reversing the NDP’s policy that has allowed no-charge assessments to increase by 75%.
2. Hire more sheriffs and judges to clear the massive court backlog and ensure swift justice.
3. Fight for mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenders to ensure they serve real jail time.
4. Create a new statutory court to hold trials for minor criminal offenses within one week of arrest, instead of the current 12-18 month delay.

Rustad emphasized that every British Columbian has the right to feel safe in their community, and a Conservative government will take aggressive steps to restore public safety.

“Eby’s NDP has failed to keep our streets safe. Law enforcement has been undercut at every turn, and public spaces have been overrun by chaos. The Conservative Party will defend our police, restore order, and make our streets safe again,” Rustad promised.

The Conservative Party of BC will:

1. Support police departments by hiring more front-line officers and expanding police training capacity.
2. End drug decriminalization and reject the dangerous Eby-Trudeau legalization experiments.
3. Enforce mandatory mental health treatment for individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others.
4. Remove dangerous tent cities across BC, relocating occupants to appropriate support services and ensuring no tolerance for tent cities on provincially-owned property.
5. Have zero tolerance for criminal behavior in social housing facilities, revoking funding for facilities that endanger communities.

Rustad criticized the NDP for failing to take action against organized crime and the drug networks that have flooded BC with deadly drugs like fentanyl.

“Our streets are being poisoned by fentanyl and deadly drugs, and the NDP has failed to stop it,” Rustad said. “A Conservative government will launch an all-out assault on organized crime and crack down on drug smuggling.”

The Conservative Party of BC will:

1. Crack down on criminals importing and distributing fentanyl and other deadly drugs.
2. Work with the federal government to improve border security, both on land and at sea.
3. Secure BC’s ports by reinstating reliable funding for the RCMP-led Waterfront Joint Forces Operations and expanding the number of officers.
4. Use every regulatory tool to remove fentanyl precursors from the streets and prevent the production of deadly drugs.

Recognizing the need for both enforcement and rehabilitation, Rustad emphasized that a Conservative government will take a balanced approach, offering real help for those struggling with crime, addiction, and mental health issues.

“Rehabilitation and enforcement go hand-in-hand,” Rustad said. “We will offer people every opportunity to turn their lives around, but we will not tolerate criminals terrorizing our communities.”

The Conservative Party of BC will:

1. Integrate addiction and mental health treatment into the justice and correctional systems.
2. Enact world-leading rehabilitation programs to help individuals exit gang life.
3. Support community policing and create a provincial school liaison officer program to protect at-risk students.

Rustad emphasized that restoring public safety is the top priority for the Conservative Party of BC.

“David Eby’s NDP has failed to protect British Columbians, and we are all paying the price,” Rustad said. “The Conservative Party of BC will bring bold leadership, end the chaos on our streets, and make our province safe again. We will always put the rights of law-abiding citizens first and bring back the safety that British Columbians deserve.”