Shootings and murder is up.

[allhatnocattle]

Toronto has a population of 2.5million and a metro population of 5.2 million. With a population at just over 550,000, Washington DC homicides peaked in 1991 at 482. That's just to put things in a little bit of perspective while considering the Toronto's crime wave of shooting and other homicides. It's still a pretty safe city, however the

Comments

[caernarvon]

I do agree with you that both parties listed seem to be addressing the symptoms (guns) rather than the disease (while not all homicide can be related back to urban decay, I would wager that a majority could be)

However, we get back to the problem of federal vs provincial authority...wouldn't fixing the problem of urban decay in the cities be a provincial rather than federal matter?

[allhatnocattle]

As I understand it, it falls on both levels of government. Federally it's under the authority of Infastructure Canada and Paul Martin's much touted "New Deal for Cities and Communities". And I would think most provinces have authoritative departments for urban centres (although Sasky probablely just has a Dept of Towns, Hamlets and Parking Lots)

[caernarvon]

Hey now, you start the Sask bashing and Im going to have to start the Alta bashing and before we know it, I'll have you agreeing with me about how much better the Roughriders are than either of the Alberta teams and we'll go out for a night of drinking....

And Im just too tired to do that right now :)

[allhatnocattle]

Hey, I'ld never bash Sasky. I'ld pick the Riders over the Eskimos any day. There's nothing to bash, literally. Sask is the only place still selling Calgary (buffalohead) Beer. They now have indoor plumbing, paved roads, and a diversified economy. But if you find yourself with the energy to make an argument, it's a good excuse for us to go out drinking.

[harry_beast]

Guns are a federal matter. Cities are the responsibility of the provinces. The federal parties believe that voters don't really care about federal areas of jurisdiction, such as foreign affairs, trade and national defense, so they always try to barge into provincial areas like health care, education and cities.

Probably, the issue should be dealt with at a municipal level, though with some coordination for law enforcement. I doubt that a one size fits all solution exists for Canada's various cities.

[binro33]

Self gov't for cities will help.
Folks that live in the community have a stake in keeping it decent.