Friday Focus: Philosophy of Prevention

Posted on May 27, 2022

Philosophy of Prevention 

This week the UCP announced $850,000 in new funding for Crime Stoppers, a community-based non-profit that works with police. How can anyone be against that? But catching those who commit crimes after the event, or even when it’s happening, is not the best solution for public safety. It’s better to take preventive measures to keep crimes from occurring in the first place. 

There are massive social components to crime. Poverty, addiction, homelessness and untreated mental illness can all contribute to it. (Although someone suffering from mental illness is more likely to be a victim than a perpetrator.) The best way to prevent most crimes is to address their root causes. That means working to end poverty and homelessness, and treating mental illness and addiction. 

The UCP has done just the opposite of that. They’ve weakened the social supports that lift people and keep them from making terrible mistakes. The UCP focuses on deterrence at the time the crime is happening or after it has happened instead of prevention which would be more economical and better for public safety.  

We need a Liberal approach not just to crime prevention, but to our economy, our schools and our healthcare system. Liberals look to the future, think holistically, and make smart investments to improve people’s lives and create positive opportunities. 

UCP Leadership Race

The race to replace Jason Kenney is on. I can’t imagine the philosophical differences between our party and the UCP will ever be reconciled, but I do offer the next UCP leader a bit of advice on how to make politics a bit more constructive again. 

  • Tone down the rhetoric. 
  • Remember those you disagree with are not your enemies. 
  • Consultation is key. 
  • The loudest voices are not the most important. 
  • Evidence comes before ideology. 

I’m not optimistic things will improve much after Kenney’s departure, but I still hope the UCP can find their way to a more civil form of politics. Since hope, alone, is not enough, I’ll keep working on ways that we can build a better Alberta for all of us. I ask you to join me in finding those solutions.

P.S. If you haven’t been reading our Spotlight on Solutions series you can find them on our website here. This week’s Spotlight addresses senior’s issues in Alberta. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic.