The provincial government is seeking feedback from the public on proposed measures to combat rural crime through a new online questionnaire.
“Our government is committed to keeping Manitobans safe wherever they live,” says Justice Minister Cliff Cullen. “It will be critical to consult with law enforcement on this issue, but we want to hear from people in rural, northern, and remote areas, as well as other Manitobans, about their experiences with crime, so we can ensure the justice system responds to their needs.”
Cullen noted that the province is considering whether to adopt legislation from other provinces to improve Manitoba’s trespass and occupiers’ liability laws and discourage stolen metal sales. This could include amendments to the Petty Trespass Act, to ensure the law is easier to enforce and to prevent confrontations between landowners and trespassers, and to the Occupiers Liability Act, to ensure a landowner’s legal responsibility for injury is fair and reasonable when someone is on their property without permission.
“Community safety and crime prevention are among the top priorities of Manitoba municipalities, and local councils have been ringing the alarm on increasing rural crime rates,” says Ralph Groening, President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. “We commend the provincial government for seeking feedback from rural Manitoba to help combat rural crime and protect Manitobans in partnership with municipal officials and stakeholders.”
Manitoba Justice has announced that they will engage with a number of stakeholders regarding proposed changes, including law enforcement agencies, municipalities, agricultural organizations, business groups, and Indigenous leadership.
Until the end of October, Manitobans at large are invited to provide feedback through a public engagement questionnaire at the Engage MB website.