Chances are your salary isn’t going up as fast as the amount you’re giving to the government to fight our province’s criminal element. This unsustainable model might be palatable in the short term if taxpayers were seeing vast improvements, but we’re not. Instead of another crime fighting spending announcement by our politicians, we need some accountability for all the money that's in the system right now.

Analysis by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation shows the amount spent on RCMP services in Manitoba, Winnipeg’s police force, federal prisons, provincial jails and the provincial justice system (not including civil matters) rose from $528 million in 2004-05 to $687 million in 2008-09.

Once you factor in population growth and remove those under the age of 14, the cost for addressing crime rose from $561.50 per Manitoban to $693.30; a 24 per cent increase.

Unfortunately, that’s going up much faster than the amount going into the average taxpayer’s pocket. Over the same five-year period, Statistics Canada data shows the average Manitoban’s income only rose by 17 per cent.

Let’s be clear, there will always be criminal activity, so collecting tax dollars to pay for policing, jail and court services is an ongoing reality. The problem is we’re not seeing results to match the skyrocketing spending.

Despite rising expenditures, Statistics Canada numbers show our province continues to suffer from high crime rates. According to a recent report by the federal agency, Manitoba had the second highest “crime severity index” in the country, more than 50 per cent higher than the national average.

Worse yet, Manitoba’s “violent crime severity index” was the highest rate in the country and almost double the Canadian average.

With municipal, provincial and federal elections happening in the near future, it’s not hard to imagine another grand government announcement that simply throws more money at the system.

No doubt bookies in Vegas would put 1:1 odds that a politician in the province will commit to “putting more police on the streets” before the year is out.
 
However, Statistics Canada figures suggest our province isn’t scrimping when it comes to police officers. According to a 2009 Statistics Canada Report, Manitoba ranks second when it comes to police officers per capita and Winnipeg is tied for first among major Canadian cities.
 
The problem is not likely with the police. The problem is the police have to catch the same criminals over and over again. In other words, because our “rehabilitative” justice system isn’t working, it’s driving additional costs throughout the system.

Consider provincial government data obtained by Manitoba’s official opposition. According to the province’s numbers 75 per cent of those released from provincial jails between October and December 2007, had reoffended by the end of 2009. Reoffending rates were even higher for those coming out of youth facilities.

Instead of another “cross your fingers” spending announcement, what we need is a thoughtful response from our politicians and some accountability for the money that’s in the system right now. One thing is for certain, taxpayers are running out of money to give; we’ve already been pick-pocketed.