OUR PLAN TO STOP THE VIOLENCE

It's human nature that we constantly look for simple answers to
complex problems. It certainly is a recurring theme in politics,
where, time and again, politicians of all stripes sell their plans as
easy fixes to the challenges of the day. But success in politics, as
in life, is not measured by who has the simplest answers; it's
measured by who has the right ones. And you can never find the right
answers without first listening to and learning from the people who
have the most at stake.

The safety of our neighbourhoods and families is a case in point. In
2005, there has been a rash of violent crimes throughout Ontario;
Toronto alone has seen 51 gun-related murders, a number that may
climb in the wake of a Boxing Day shooting at Toronto's Eaton Centre.
In cities and towns ranging from Ottawa to London, Belleville to
Woodstock, and of course, Toronto, I met with police and community
leaders dealing with crime issues all their own.

There are many disturbing factors in the rash of gun crimes -- among
them the number linked to gangs and drugs and the way a
disproportionate number of them occurred in a few at-risk
neighborhoods, where the good people who make up the vast majority of
residents have reason to live in fear. What I find most disturbing,
however, is the number of violent crimes whose perpetrators or
victims were drawn from our province's youth.

The scenes we have witnessed of teenagers getting shot on church
steps and in school parking lots was a clear sign that real action
was needed. In response, and in lieu of meaningful action by Ontario
Premier Dalton McGuinty's government, our Progressive Conservative
caucus embarked on an ambitious consultation of our own.

I visited many of the neighbourhoods most afflicted by youth violence
and came away impressed by the thoughtfulness and resolve I heard
from local families. Our caucus met with law enforcement and
community leaders, students, social activists and educators, as well
as reformed gang members and victims of crime. We held a major summit
on youth violence where all parties could come together to work on a
common solution.

On Dec. 11, we released a 70-page action plan to address this crisis
at its source. In it, we reject the viewpoint that youth violence is
only a matter of criminal justice and that a combination of more
police and tougher sentencing would on its own make the problem go
away. Likewise, we reject the equally untrue belief that all crime is
a social problem that can simply be solved by spending more on new
social programs and community development. Effectively battling youth
violence requires us to take the best ideas from all sides of the
debate and present a comprehensive approach.

Our Action Plan on Violence Against Youth presents 22 recommendations
and covers a wide range of ideas. In general, we focused on three
distinct themes:

- - Providing more support to our police. By putting more officers on
the street, we will enable them to better protect our communities
against crime and to build better relationships with neighbourhoods
in need. This should start with the 1,000 additional officers that
Mr. McGuinty has promised -- not in 2007, but this coming year.

- - Fixing the justice system. This must include putting an end to the
outrageous practice of granting convicted criminals double and triple
credit for days served in jail before trial; ending the practice of
revolving-door bail that has allowed people arrested for gun offences
to commit more crimes after being arrested; and putting an end to
ridiculous plea bargains that put violent offenders back on the
street with only a slap on the wrist.

- - Supporting communities and families. This means giving youth in
at-risk communities the educational programs, job internships and
social outlets they need to escape the cycle of violence and crime,
and supporting young families so parents are able to set the right
example early.

The time has come to throw away the ideologically loaded
one-dimensional solutions of the past. What we need is action based
on listening and learning. We believe our party has offered the
framework for that action. Now it's time for all parties and all
governments to put those ideas to work.

A full copy of Time For Action: A Report on Violence Affecting Youth
is available at www.ontariopc.com.