June 3, 2010

NDP CONTINUES TO FLOW MONEY TO SCOFFLAWS ON THE LAM : GOERTZEN

Despite widespread support for Private Members’ Bill, NDP shot it down: Goertzen

Taxpayers remain on the hook for paying welfare benefits to dangerous criminals who evade the law because the soft-on-crime NDP failed to do the right thing and pass a private members’ bill that would have denied welfare benefits to dangerous criminals who have outstanding warrants, says Manitoba Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Kelvin Goertzen.  

“The NDP government sent a strong message to dangerous criminals, sexual predators, and pedophiles that it’s OK to run from the law and still maintain your lifestyle compliments of the taxpayer,” said Progressive Conservative Justice Critic Kelvin Goertzen.  

Goertzen’s Private Members’ Bill 232 – The Employment and Income Assistance Amendment Act (Restricting Assistance – Outstanding  Warrants)-  would have denied financial assistance to a person with an outstanding warrant for a serious indictable offences.  The NDP shot it down in the legislature on Thursday. 

“I am very disappointed that despite their platitudes, the NDP is not serious about cracking down on crime,” said Goertzen. “Passing this bill would have been a good first step in addressing the 10,000 to 12,000 outstanding warrants in the province.”

Goertzen believes Manitoba taxpayers would rather have their tax dollars going to support more police, better health care, and a stronger education system, than to criminals who are running from the law.