Employment, crime linked

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo

There is a connection between Kelowna's increasing crime rate and the growing unemployment rate.

That connection was made by Mayor Colin Basran, a day after a Statistics Canada report cited the Central Okanagan had the second highest crime rate among the 33 metropolitan areas with a population exceeding 100,000 in Canada.

"We know that unemployment and crime rates tend to be related ... and we have seen the unemployment rate rise in our community," said Basran.

"I would say in large part due to the fact we do have people who call Kelowna home, but work in Alberta where we have seen the rise in our unemployment rate."

The link is not a new notion.

Kelowna's top cop, Supt. Nick Romanchuk, has made the same connection between the economic downturn in Alberta reflecting on Kelowna's unemployment and crime rates.

Basran said the city is trying to turn that situation around by working with the Economic Development Commission to try and create employment opportunities.

It's part of what he calls a holistic approach by city council to fight crime.

One of those is a Housing First strategy the city is working with senior levels of government on.

"We know if you don't have a home and your don't have steady employment, there is a temptation to turn to crime to make ends meet, so to speak."

Basran also pointed to a group of repeat, prolific offenders within the community, a handful of petty criminals who are responsible for a large majority of crimes being reported.

"The RCMP did a sweep of our downtown core before the summer which resulted in numerous arrests," said Basran.

"The unfortunate part is a large majority of those people will probably be back on our streets before the end of the summer, and out doing their petty crimes. That's a real source of frustration for council, and I'm sure for the RCMP."

Basran did point out the crime stats are for the entire Central Okanagan region, not just Kelowna.

The Census Metropolitan area, which encompasses the statistical area, also includes Peachland, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation lands, regional district lands and Lake Country.

He was also puzzled by the fact a recent citizen survey showed Kelowna residents said they feel safe and that Kelowna is one of the fastest growing communities in the country.

"To say it isn't safe really doesn't jive with the stats that say we are one of the fastest growing areas in all of Canada."

The Kelowna RCMP has yet to comment on the latest crime numbers.