KLEIN: Bring safety back to Canada through honourable values and repercussions

Article content

Canada was once a country known worldwide for its national pride and safety. Canadian neighbourhoods permeated with a sense of trust and security, enough to leave the doors of your home unlocked. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were seen as symbols of honour and justice — portrayed as heroes in movies and TV shows.

Article content

In those days, we were united by the shared pride in our athletes, traditions, and values. There was a clear understanding of right and wrong. We bore consequences for our actions.

Growing up, I knew which lines should never be crossed with my mother, teachers, and society. I was taught to respect others, to respect authority, my elders, and be grateful for what I had.

If I broke the law, jail was a genuine possibility — a deterrent. Knowing there were consequences for my actions made me think twice before acting. Like many Canadians, I had family members who ran afoul of the law and spent time behind bars. I’ve lived in government housing and I’ve slept in a Salvation Army shelter when left without any other option. I’ve lived without many things. Life was hard, very hard.

Article content

Article content

Even so, I knew the rules, and understood that breaking those rules meant facing consequences. I didn’t have any form of special treatment due to my race, background, or sexual orientation. We were poor, period. Despite growing up in difficult circumstances, I didn’t let it corrode my values. Instead, it fueled me to work hard to overcome any challenges. I’ve made countless mistakes, many of which I regret, and I’ve faced consequences for those actions.

Accountability shaped me, kept me on the right side of the law, and ultimately allowed me to grow into a better person.

What’s happened to that Canada? What has changed society to make it look and feel so different? You can’t only blame Justin Trudeau. This change didn’t happen overnight, nor is it the fault of any one person or politician. There is, however, no doubt that something has gone terribly wrong.

Article content

Is the answer really to keep giving more money to groups, hoping that they won’t turn to crime? Is that the reason you or I never committed crime? Or was it because we knew there would be consequences for our actions — either from the police or, worse, from our parents? If I got into a fight at school, cheated on a test, or made fun of someone, I knew I would pay the price — mom ensured it. The problem we face today is a lack of accountability. We have become a society where law-abiding citizens pay the price for the actions of criminals.

Think about it; when you want to buy liquor, you’re treated like a potential criminal. You’re forced to show ID, sometimes several times, as though you’ve committed a crime. Stores are being told they have to lock up their inventory, hire security, install cameras, and plan for theft as if it’s an inevitable part of doing business. Meanwhile, criminals continue to find ways around these measures without facing any real consequences.

Article content

That’s the real change. It’s not poverty, the quality of our schools, nor is it the lack of access to health care or social services. Those things have been part of the fabric of our society for decades. We can’t blame them for the breakdown we’re witnessing today.

Perhaps the fault lies with the police, some might say. Are you able to name a single society in the world that functions without a law-and-order system? You can’t. Winnipeg is experiencing an epidemic of guns, machetes, and knives on our streets, and yet some still argue that we should defund the police. That isn’t the correct approach. If anything, we need more institutions and programs offered to inmates that focus on rehabilitation.

At the core of it all lies this simple truth: Individuals who commit a crime need to receive appropriate consequences. We are witnessing how society deteriorates when people aren’t held accountable for their actions and when politicians and activists weaponize racial, religious, and personal beliefs to further divide us. People start to believe they can act with impunity, and the rule of law becomes meaningless.

Article content

The solution isn’t complicated, but requires courage. We need to restore the culture of accountability. This means ensuring our police have the resources they need to uphold the law and protect our communities. When someone breaks the law, they face real, tangible consequences. We need more rehabilitation programs that help offenders get their lives back on track, but those programs must be delivered through a justice system that holds people accountable for their actions.

In addition, we need to reinforce the values of respect, discipline, and personal responsibility in our schools and homes. Parents, teachers, and community leaders all have a role to play in teaching the next generation that actions have consequences.

Article content

Canada didn’t become a great nation by accident. We became a great nation because we upheld certain principles: Respect for the law, respect for others, and accountability for one’s actions. If we want to restore Canada to the country we once were, we need to bring back those values. Only then can we begin to rebuild the safe, proud, and united country that so many worldwide once looked to as a beacon of hope.

— Kevin Klein is a former Tory cabinet minister, a former city councillor and President & CEO of Klein Group Ltd.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca

Article content