Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition on behalf of citizens of Saskatoon West, particularly residents of Fairhaven, Meadowgreen, Parkridge and Confederation in Saskatoon who have faced significant challenges with crime.
Violent crime was up 10% in 2024, with an increase in assault, murders and robberies. Saskatoon has had 14 homicides in 2024, an almost 15% increase over the number in 2023. Saskatoon residents feel unsafe in their houses and on the streets.
The undersigned petitioners call for the government to do the following: one, reform the catch-and-release bail system to prevent dangerous repeat violent offenders from serving their sentences in the community; two, establish new indictable offences, reporting obligations and limitations on weapons possession for previous offenders who break conditions; and three, pass legislation in which an accused charged more than twice with certain indictable offences must be detained in custody while subject to summons, appearance notice or release order.
I stand with the residents of Saskatoon West.