Does It Really Impact Me?

The recent wave of shocking violence that has occurred in Winnipeg and that has left an innocent women attending a wedding social dead is something that every law-abiding Manitoban finds disturbing but it may leave many wondering, does it really impact me?

For the longest time, there was a perception that serious crime only impacted those who were living in certain parts of Winnipeg. Over the past few years, those perceptions have changed as more gang activities have reached out into the suburbs of the province’s largest city and into other areas such as Brandon. Residents in every part of Winnipeg now express concern about crime in the area they live because so many have been touched by break and enters, auto thefts and other crimes.

For those living outside of our largest urban centre, there is the very real and legitimate question about how the increased crime and violence impacts them. Does it really matter? Naturally, as Manitobans, we are all concerned about the safety of others and the reputation our province receives from violence no matter where we live but it is also clear that it touches our daily lives differently depending on where we live.

Among the many reasons I choose to live and raise my family in southeastern Manitoba is because it is a relatively safe region. But that fact does not insulate us from the impact of gang activity that happens in our largest city. There is the obvious fact that many residents from our region and across Manitoba are often in Winnipeg for events and business. More than a few residents have told me of either not feeling safe attending events after dark or having their vehicles stolen or broken into.

Many parents and community leaders in our region have expressed to me their concern over the increased availability of drugs in communities in our region. Most of the availability of these drugs ties back to gang activity which grows and manufactures these drugs, sometimes in our local region, and distributes them locally and internationally in exchange for illegal weapons which come back into our province.

It is also not unusual to have criminal activity from Winnipeg reach beyond its boundaries in the form of residential and commercial crime. From shoplifting to break and enters, gangs do not feel bound by the Perimeter highway. As well, property that is stolen locally often only finds a market because of the gang activity happening in our largest city.

There is also the pure economic cost of crime that happens in Winnipeg. The cost of insuring automobiles and motorcycles as well as other goods is directly tied to the loss that is experienced through crime and it impacts everyone.

Everybody who hears about the gang activity and violence happening in Winnipeg feels shocked and concerned for their fellow Manitobans. Of course, how this impacts people on a day to day basis differs based on where they live. But, regardless of where you live, if you are concerned about drugs and weapons in your community, if you are concerned about property crime and the cost of that crime, or if you think twice about attending events in other parts of the province, you are being impacted. And you have every reason to demand a crackdown on gang activity, even if you can’t see it happening outside your back window.