[Only The Lonely..]

I'm curious to know what the rest of you forumers think of the Peg? Do you really consider Winnipeg to be a dark, dangerous place?

Grit MP defends the 'Peg from guns 'n' gangs tag

Winnipeg Sun | Feb. 10th | 2007

By JORGE BARRERA, NATIONAL BUREAU


OTTAWA -- The Conservatives are tarring Winnipeg and scaring away investment by claiming the city's "streets are ruled by guns, gangs and thugs," says a Winnipeg MP.

Winnipeg South Centre Liberal MP Anita Neville is demanding an apology from the government after an Ottawa Conservative MP said Winnipeg was a crime-ridden burg during a House of Commons debate Thursday evening.

"It is outrageous, it is misleading ... I am so angry," said Neville. "They are casting aspersions on Winnipeg when there is all kinds of economic outreach happening to try to attract people to the city."

DEBATE

Nepean-Carleton Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre was debating Neville over which party cared more for Manitoba when he made the controversial statement.


"The Liberal party ... would block the tough on crime initiatives that we are taking to clean up the streets in places like Manitoba, in places like Winnipeg, where crime is increasingly a problem, and where the streets are ruled by guns, gangs and thugs," said Poilievre, Parliamentary secretary to Treasury Board President Vic Toews, a Manitoba MP.

Toews defended Poilievre, who was in Winnipeg five months ago.

"Go into Winnipeg and look at the problems with guns, gangs and drugs," said Toews. "If you don't think there is a problem, I would suggest you go for a time."

The Conservatives have been trying to tag Neville as soft on crime. The government recently distributed a flyers in her riding titled, "Anita Neville Soft on Crime?" The flyer, paid for with tax dollars, accused Neville of gutting a bill that would have crossed out house arrests as a sentencing option for serious crime. All three opposition parties have found problems with Bill C-9, which is in the Senate.

Winnipeg had the second highest murder-rate among major cities in 2005 with 26 killings. Edmonton led the country with 44.

In December, three Winnipeg police officers were shot during a drug raid. Winnipeg has recorded two murders so far this year, down from four murders during the same time span in 2006.

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