Estevan MLA Lori Carr has been appointed to a new committee that will focus on reducing crime rates in Saskatchewan.
Premier Brad Wall made the appointments to the Caucus Committee on Crime Reduction in late November. The chairman will be Battlefords MLA Herb Cox.
Other committee members include Saskatoon Fairview’s Jennifer Campeau who will serve as vice-chair; Canora-Pelly MLA Terry Dennis, Regina Coronation Park’s Mark Docherty, Cut Knife-Turtleford’s Larry Doke and Cpress Hills MLA Doug Steele.
Citing crime as one of the main concerns he has heard while travelling throughout the province, Wall said, “I have asked this new committee to focus on causes and make recommendations on what the province and our partners, like municipalities and police forces, can do to reduce crime.”
The committee is to consult with municipalities, police agencies and other organizations to determine what the major issues are and what can be done to better address each. Some particular areas of concern are rising property crime rates in rural areas, police presence in rural areas and an increase in guns, gang activity and highly addictive and dangerous drugs such as fentanyl in urban centres.
The committee’s recommendations will be sent to the Minister of Justice, the cabinet and government caucus.
“I look forward to receiving and acting on the committee’s recommendations,” Wall said.
No distinct timeline or deadline was noted for the filing of the recommendations.
