Thank you.
I would like to thank Mr. Newark, Mr. Becotte, and Mr. Cornea for their presentations today. I'd like to thank our two gentlemen from Saskatchewan for their volunteer service in helping their communities.
I would like to read an email that I got from one of my constituents yesterday. It's so appropriate that I had to bring it here today. I'm going to lead my question off right afterward.
I'm not going to give his full name. I've asked him, but he hasn't sent a reply back, so I'll just give his first name: Wayne.
Mr. Eglinski,
Thank you for your quick reply and efforts concerning Rural Crime.
The need for something immediate in this case is needed. The time required for politics to find a solution may be too little too late. Sometimes it feels like we're in a war zone and politics tell us we'll talk about stopping the bombs from falling in time.
I believe I'm a concerned citizen that wants tomorrow's news to read about bad people taken down, not neighbours or I victimized again. I hope I am not being told I should just let vigilante justice take hold until politics can find a solution.
As someone who lives in a rural area where crime is almost a daily occurrence, I can offer first hand input to any task force that wants it. Right now, I need the assistance of an authority willing to act before things get out of hand.
There is an urgency in my words and maybe politicians are just another dead end like other paths explored. Desperate people will act for themselves if no one else does. Personally, I am not desperate, but some are. I suppose I'll do my best for those I can [help] until help in some form arrives.
Thanks again for your time.
I don't know Wayne from anybody, but I did research, and he lives about 40 miles out of Edmonton in a rural area.
With that lead-up, I would like to put a question to both Lane and Nick.
Are you hearing similar frustrations in your travels throughout your areas? I know most people don't want anything to do with vigilante justice, but they're very frustrated.
Could you both quickly comment, please?
We'll start with Lane.