To the Honoured Members of Parliament, and Members of Provincial Parliament for Ontario: 

We, the residents of Markham, Ontario, come together to voice our collective concern regarding the alarming rise in crime in our community, particularly over the last few years. Recent statistics reveal a disturbing surge in car theft, break and enter, home invasion, robbery, and carjacking, which has left our neighborhoods feeling unsafe and vulnerable.

Crime Rate Increase: 

According to statistics by York Regional Police, over the past few years Markham has experienced a sharp increase in various crimes: [Source: https://community-safety-portal-datayrp.hub.arcgis.com/pages/maps

• Car theft in Markham has risen by over 309% from 2019 to 2023, making it one of the fastest-growing criminal activities in the region.
• Break and enter have surged by more than 72%, from 2022 to 2023, threatening the safety of families in their most private spaces.
• Robbery incidents have increased by nearly 25.5%, often involving violent confrontations.
• Gun-related crimes. In 2023, York Region recorded 963 gun-related crimes, marking a nearly 96.5% increase from the previous year.
• Carjacking. In 2019, York Region reported a relatively low number of carjacking, but by 2023, there had been a 400% increase compared to that year. This sharp rise has been attributed to organized crime and increased violent crime in the area​ [Source - CityNews Toronto：https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/08/27/york-region-carjacking-crime-increase/

These numbers reflect not just statistics but the reality of our deteriorating sense of security. Residents, business owners, and families are living in constant fear of becoming the next victim.

Current Bail System Failing Canadians

A significant contributing factor to this rise in crime is the failure of the current bail process to keep repeated offenders off the streets. Too often, individuals arrested for serious crimes are granted bail and quickly return to the community, where they continue to endanger the public. The existing system is putting law-abiding citizens at risk, while dangerous offenders are not being held accountable for their actions.

We believe the time has come for a comprehensive review and reform of the Canadian Criminal Code, specifically the bail process. Our criminal justice system must prioritize the safety of citizens and prevent known criminals from repeating offenses. Stricter measures are needed to ensure that those charged with violent and serious crimes are not released back into our neighborhoods prematurely.

Our Call to Action：

We, therefore, call on our federal and provincial elected representatives to work together to:

1. Review the Canadian criminal code, particularly the bail system, to ensure that violent and repeated offenders are not easily released back into neighborhoods.
2. Increase penalties for repeat offenders and those involved in organized crime, which has been a major contributor to the spike in vehicle-related crimes in York Region.
3. Provide additional resources to local law enforcement agencies, enabling them to better protect our communities from the rising threat of violence.

Our community deserves to feel safe again. We urge the Federal and Provincial governments to take immediate and decisive action to restore the safety and security of Markham and surrounding regions.

Residents: Please sign this petition to show your support for stronger crime prevention measures and a safer future for all residents.  

 

Sincerely,

Markham Community Alliance

On behalf of 46 neighbourhood watch communities in Markham, Ontario

For media contact: 

Email:  npo.muca@gmail.com

Tel: 647-403-7770

 

PS: the platform’s call for donation is unrelated to this petition.