By Lyonel Doherty

A Medicine Hat MP with a 35-year policing career under his belt is hoping to wrangle change in Canada’s justice system.

In Oliver last week, deputy shadow minister for public safety, Glen Motz, accompanied Conservative candidate Helena Konanz at a small campaign forum in Medici’s Gelateria, where much of the discussion focused on crime.

“When I just about had it figured out (in the police department), they told me it was time to retire.”

Motz admitted that he’s more comfortable on the back of a horse pushing cows than wearing a suit and tie and listening to Justin Trudeau talk in Ottawa.

Motz carries a phone in a holster, and the phone has a Bill C-71 sticker with a cross through it. He told the audience that he’s not in favour of Canada’s new legislation to control firearms stemming from gun and gang violence.

“Dealing with firearm bans and firearm control is not the answer to this; it’s proven by science, its proven by experts in law enforcement.”

Motz acknowledged that property crime and rural crime are big issues in Oliver.

“The largest segment of crime growth in this country is rural crime. It’s growing at about a 25 to 30 per cent rate faster than urban crime.”

He said the reason for that is, in a lot of rural Canada, the policing structure is different than in urban Canada. 

“You have a vast area to cover, you have limited resources and criminals know that the response time for law enforcement is slim to none.”

Motz said society has to get back to the days when people looked after their neighbour’s property too.

The MP took a few moments to praise Konanz for seeking the seat in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding.

“She’s very commonsensical and has a real handle on what’s going on in her community. And most importantly that I saw, she really listens to people.”

On the campaign trail, Motz is telling people there is nothing the government can give them that it already hasn’t taken away. 

“There are no handouts they can give that they haven’t already taken from the taxpayer in some way, shape or form.”

Motz said people can no longer sit on the sidelines and hope everything is going to work out. 

“If you’re not Conservative, that’s okay. That’s why we live in a democracy.”

The MP commented that he’s not a politician and never wanted to be.

“I tell my friends at home, if I ever start turning into a politician, they have full permission to give me a swift kick in the rear end.”

Motz clarified that he’s a parliamentarian who puts his pants on the same way as everyone else does.

He said the role of government is to protect the people, its borders and create an environment where local business can be successful. This role does not include giving billions of dollars away to other countries, he pointed out.

“It means that you grow partnerships and you work on trade. It means that you look after people at home first.”

Motz said Canada has an infrastructure bank that is giving a significant amount of money to build bridges, pipelines and roads in China.

“The only thing I can give this Liberal government credit for is . . . JT (Justin Trudeau) said he was going to legalize marijuana, and by golly he legalized marijuana. Good for him. That’s not the legacy that I would want to have on my resume.”

Motz said the Conservative Party’s goal is to have Trudeau be a one-term prime minister.

Konanz said Oliver is a good example of how the federal government is ignoring rural Canada, citing the lack of funding for the Gallagher Lake siphon repair project.

“It could be devastating to this area if it collapses.”

That’s why the Conservatives are working hard on this, Konanz said, adding that “when we’re in government you guys will be serviced; that flume will be serviced.”

Back to the crime problem, Motz said people who purposely commit crime need to be held accountable. But he noted the current government has “watered down” the Criminal Code and has made the system a “revolving door” for criminals.

Motz said too many people are committing offences while out on bail.

He stated the Liberals are saying there is a gun problem in Canada, but he refutes that. 

“We have a gang problem in this country. We have a drug problem in this country, and that’s the issue.”

Motz said every police chief he spoke to across Canada told him that banning firearms will not make a difference on criminal activity. 

He said people who use firearms to commit crimes need to be held more accountable.

Konanz said people are frustrated seeing the same criminals committing crimes over and over again in the South Okanagan. She also noted the frustration with the unkept promise of more RCMP officers in Oliver to cover the additional calls at the correctional centre. 

She said the Conservative Party believes in policies that are tougher on the true criminals. 

“But this can only succeed if we provide services for those citizens who need help with addressing drug addiction, mental health issues and homelessness.”