PUBLICATION:  The Toronto Sun 
DATE:  2003.11.26
EDITION:  Final 
SECTION:  Editorial/Opinion 
PAGE:  16 
BYLINE:  BOB MACDONALD 
COLUMN:  Straight Talk 

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WE NEED LEADERS WHO HAVE THE GUTS TO FIGHT CRIME
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Increasing violent crime threatens every man, woman and child in Toronto
- despite shrugs from our political leaders.

And by "shrugs" I mean the lack of emphasis on fighting violent crime by Toronto's NDP mayor-elect David Miller, new Ontario Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty, and incoming Liberal prime minister Paul Martin.

In their political speeches, policies and campaigning, more emphasis was given to the "social causes" of violent crime rather than going after the criminals. The "rights" of the accused come across as being more important than those of the victims and their families.

In the recent Toronto mayoralty election campaign, candidate John Tory vowed to add 400 more police officers to the city's overstretched police force. He stated:

"Over the last 10 years in Toronto there were 209,688 homes broken into, 30,141 sexual assaults and 12,469 armed robberies. You can vote for more of the same or you can vote for a comprehensive plan to crack down on crime that includes hiring 400 more police officers for our streets to combat gangs, guns and drugs."

Miller opposed hiring more police officers. Guess who won the election?

And this happened despite the fact that Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino sounded a cry for help. He even asked the federal government to appoint a special inquiry into the criminal justice system.

"I think the criminal justice system is broken down and I believe it needs fixing and I believe we have the victims to prove it," he said.

This week, he repeated the call, noting Toronto keeps being hit by waves of shooting and stabbing murders, robberies, break-ins, home invasions, kidnappings, rapes and beatings.

And this week, Toronto homicide Staff Inspector Gary Ellis noted his detectives were exhausted from the buildup of murders. Especially murders where many people were present when a killing took place - but no one saw anything.

"We're tired," he said, noting that such things as the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms have resulted in an increasing amount of paperwork and red tape before an investigation can be completed. Last weekend, there were three murders to add to the growing list.

One was 23-year-old Rayaz Kalif Ali, murdered Sunday evening when four home invaders burst into his Tobermory Dr. apartment. In his attempts to defend his family, including his two-year-old daughter, Ali was shot to death.

The four fled and are still being hunted. A Toronto Police news release
stated: "All four suspects are male and described by the witnesses as black. All four suspects were wearing bandanas over their faces. One of the suspects was described as six feet in height and skinny, wearing a black leather jacket, black sweater with a black hat worn to the side."

There was some speculation that the thugs targeted the apartment by mistake. No matter; Ali is dead, forever.

The media provides the bare outline of the waves of crime that have been mounting. To some it may seem surprising. But to others it is just the culmination of the election of more and more liberal politicians who whisper sweet nothings about punishing the criminals.

Take such things as the removal of capital punishment for murder; soft immigration and refugee laws that allow criminals easy access to Canada; a sick joke, super-weak young offenders system; soft sentences and early parole for serious crimes; and the federal Charter that constantly allows criminals to beat the rap and leaves our streets plagued with panhandlers, prostitutes, etc.

Among his 231 election campaign promises, McGuinty said he'd put 1,000 more cops on Ontario's streets - but that's for the entire province. He also promised 50 more prosecutors to handle court cases. But if he's as sincere about those as the promises he has already broken, we may have a long wait.

What we badly need are leaders who will adopt the "broken window" concept used in New York City - to go all-out against violent crimes, starting with the smallest.

Such as one that occurred here Nov. 2. Two young men jumped a 17-year-old on Bloor Street West. Said the police report: "The suspects struck the victim about the head and body, causing him to fall to the ground. The suspects then removed the victim's sneakers."

In Toronto, we need the "stolen sneakers" concept. Like New York, going after the smallest violent crimes all the way up to the most serious.

But do we have the will? And do we have the leaders?