Vancouver is 'best place to live'
BBC News

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40870000/jpg/_40870732_canada203ap.jpg
Canadians have a lot to toast in terms of liveability, the EIU reckons

Vancouver is the world's best place to live, a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has found.
The EIU ranked 127 cities in terms of personal risk, infrastructure and the availability of goods and services.

Most of the cities that fell into the top "liveability" bracket were based in Western Europe and North America.

The worst places were Algiers in Algeria, and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea because "many aspects of daily life present challenges", the EIU said.

Safe havens?

Canadian cities scored well, as did Austria's Vienna and Switzerland's Geneva, because they are not seen as targets for terror attacks.

Top group
- Vancouver
- Melbourne
- Vienna
- Geneva
- Perth
- Adelaide
- Sydney
- Zurich
- Toronto
- Calgary
Source: EIU

The main uncertainty for people living in the those cities are climate-related, the EIU said.

"In the current global political climate, it is no surprise that the most desirable destinations are those with the lower perceived threat of terrorism," said Jon Copestake, editor of the EIU report.

The survey has produced a mixed picture of the world's cities. London was ranked in the 10th group, on a par with Dublin and Los Angeles, but one place below Manchester, four behind Berlin, five lower than Tokyo, and six off Helsinki, Frankfurt and Stockholm.

Bottom 10 cities
- Tehran
- Douala
- Harare
- Abidjan
- Phnom Penh
- Lagos
- Karachi
- Dhaka
- Algiers
- Port Moresby
Source: EIU

In Latin America, "no city manages to present ideal living conditions, neither do any fall into the category where extreme difficulties are faced", the EIU said.

Montevideo in Uruguay, Santiago in Chile and Buenos Aires in Argentina offer the region's best conditions. Bogota in Columbia and Caracas in Venezuela score the least favourably.

In Asia, cities in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China and Taiwan all score well, as do Australia's main hubs.

Africa and the Middle East fare less well, with the EIU citing concerns about terror attacks, and economic and political instability.

Some of the worst performing cities include Harare in Zimbabwe and Lagos in Nigeria.

Already posted.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=264420

I'd agree with it, if Vancouver didn't have so many horror stories and bad parts!
I love Vancouver, don't get me wrong, but I'd feel a lot safer in other cities.

Vancouver is a very safe city, what horror stories are you talking about I live here and I haven't heard anything.

Vancouver is a very safe city, what horror stories are you talking about I live here and I haven't heard anything.
Vancouver has the highest crime rates in all Canadian cities.
Don't listen to the news, don't read the newspapers, don't believe anyone else ... check out these links first hand:
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police/media/daily.htm
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police/media/summaries/2005oct03.htm
HIGHLIGHTS FROM MORNING MEDIA BRIEFING
VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT
2005.10.03

Police File #05-242033 – Gun Call
September 30 th , 11:56 pm – Five people were arrested after police entered an apartment in the 1300 block of Hornby St. and found two shotguns and a pistol. Police had earlier received a call from a restaurant patron in the same block. While walking to his car after dinner, he heard the distinctive sound of a gun being “racked.” When he looked up he could see the gun being pointed at him from a balcony.

Officers were able to pinpoint the apartment and make the arrests.

Police File #05-242077 - Robbery
October 1 st , 12:50 am – A security guard received minor cuts from a fleeing thief after chasing him from the 7-11 at 500 Abbott St . The man pulled the knife when the security guard challenged him after he tried to shoplift a sandwich. A fight ensued inside the store and a second fight started outside the store when another security guard arrived and was confronted by an accomplice.

The two guards chased the men to the 100 block of Keefer St. , where they pointed something in the air which produced a loud bang before escaping on the Skytrain.

The guards said both men were white and in their twenties. One of the men was 6'3”, 220 lbs. with a large build and short blonde hair. He was wearing a yellow t-shirt and baggy blue jeans. The other man was 5'10”, 170 lbs., with a muscular build. His light blonde hair was crew cut and he was wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans.

Police File #05-242556 – Gun Call
October 1 st , 3:00 pm – Charges are pending against three men after police seized a sawed-off shotgun and some ammunition from an apartment in the 1200 block of W.Broadway. After receiving a tip about the gun, the Emergency Response Team was called in and traffic on W. Broadway was blocked off.

The three men, age 39, 44 and 49 are all Vancouver residents.

Police File #05-242855 - Stabbing
October 1 st , 10:30 pm – Investigators are looking for six or seven Asian men after a stabbing in front of the Joyce St. Skytrain. While in a pizza store in the area, a man looked out the window and became afraid after seeing the group outside, as they appeared to be waiting for him. When the store owner offered to call police, he refused.

He ran out into the street and was immediately attacked, only realizing later that he had been stabbed. He ran into another business and police and ambulance were called. His liver was punctured in the attack. He remains in hospital in critical, but stable, condition.

The description of the attackers was limited: six to seven Asian men, possibly Vietnamese or Philippino, 16 to 20 years old, all with short, dark hair and wearing dark clothing, possibly with puffy jackets. One was wearing white track pants.

The relationship between the people involved has not yet been determined.

Police File #05-243398 - Assault
October 2 nd , 3:10 pm – A 15-year-old boy was taken to Children's Hospital with a concussion, lacerations and bruising after he was hit over the head with a golf club. The boy was with two friends in the area of 24 th and Brant when three Native Indian youths approached them. One of the youths said something to him and then hit him with the golf club.

He told police the youths were between 15 and 17 years of age and that he may have recognized one of them.

Police File #05-243579 – Robbery
October 2 nd , 9:25 pm – A 39-year-old Vancouver woman has minor injuries after her backpack was ripped from her back in the 300 block of E.60 th Ave. A man came up behind her, grabbed the pack and pulled her to the ground. She lost her passport, her cell phone and cash.

The man was 20 to 30 years old, 5'6” and possibly white.

Vancouver has had 120 purse snatching to date this year.
.

^ If it's like that in Vancouver, just imagine how tough things are in some other countries. Spend a month in Port Moresby, then we'll see if you want to talk about Vancouver's crime. Hint: a head hunter in Vancouver is very different from one in Port Moresby. ;)

at least you didn't lie about no horror stories.
and Pt Moresby is not as sophisticated
hint: in Vancouver, no blood was drawn when one loses his/her head.

Three B.C. men charged over drug tunnel
Terri Theodore
Canadian Press
Thursday, July 21, 2005
A view of the alleged drug tunnel provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
LANGLEY, B.C. -- Accused of a crime that seems borrowed from a Hollywood heist film, three men have been charged with digging a tunnel about the length of a football field beneath the Canada-U.S. border for the purpose of smuggling marijuana.

Sep 15th, 2005 - 10:37:49 AM
File #E-Division 2005E-2390
DRUG HOUSE SEARCHED BY POLICE
Vancouver: RCMP have shut down a fully operational ecstasy pill pressing operation at a residence located in the east end of Vancouver.
Since early 2005 investigators from the RCMP Greater Vancouver Drug Section, the RCMP Integrated Proceeds of Crime Section and the “E” Div. CIS - Asian Organized Crime have been conducting an investigation which lead them to a residence located at 3179 E. 14th Ave., Vancouver, B.C.

Sep 15th, 2005 - 12:04:07 PM
File #Richmond 2005
Major Drug Lab Bust on no 5 Rd. updated at 12:58 PM
Richmond, BC: Richmond RCMP are currently on scene at 6651 no 5 Rd. with multiple other agencies dealing with a major chemical seizure.
Upon entry to the residence, an active and sophisticated drug lab was found. At this point investigators have seized 200 kg of liquid ecstacy. This amount of ecstacy could yield 4 million pills.

Sep 14th, 2005 - 01:50:17 PM
File #Coquitlam 2005CQ30889
Drug Investigation Leads to Several Arrests
File #: 2005-CQ30889
Location: 600 block of Dansey Ave, Coquitlam, BC
Date: 2005–July-26
Investigators: Coquitlam Drug Section

thank you helsnkiborg.
My friend Ash went to live in Vancouver for a little while, and he was mugged, and had his cell stolen. LOL! He was only there maybe a few weeks.
Now, I know this obviously doesn't happen all the time, but Jesus, one Windsor kid just happens to get mugged!?
I've heard other things as well, but mostly pertaining to drugs and homless people.

Oaronuviss, I am sorry about your friend. This should never have happened to any visitors to Vancouver, if we aspire to be world class tourist destination.

About homeless people and drugs, if we just ignore the facts and pretend that they are not there we are doing ourselves a disservice. World tourists are not stupid but au contraire are very well informed and worldly smart.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/Canada/Province_of_British_Columbia/Vancouver-903183/Warnings_or_Dangers-Vancouver-Downtown_Eastside-BR-1.html

/\ Yeah seriously!
It is a huge drug haven though, and with drugs come crime I suppose.
I know another friend went up there just for fun for a few days and said drugs are simply everywhere...you could buy drugs in a damn office tower at someone's desk.
Meh...

Drugs are a problem in every large North American Port city, and the problem is worsened by one of Vancouver's strengths: 2nd mildest climate in the country after Victoria.

Vancouver's practically a magnet for druggies all across the country. For goodness sakes, they even need French social services to help out some of the homeless there. It's a tough issue to tackle though, since Vancouverites are usually are a bit liberal when it comes to drug laws.

And so, avoid chinatown at all costs. Good news for Canadian cities, ESPECIALLY VANCOUVER.

^^ The druggies are spreading out though, especially after police raids in DTES. Last I've seen, they're already populating the WestEnd and other spots where they can avoid the police.

Vancouver has the highest crime rates in all Canadian cities.
Don't listen to the news, don't read the newspapers, don't believe anyone else ... check out these links first hand:
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police/media/daily.htm
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/police/media/summaries/2005oct03.htm
HIGHLIGHTS FROM MORNING MEDIA BRIEFING
VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT
2005.10.03

Police File #05-242033 – Gun Call
September 30 th , 11:56 pm – Five people were arrested after police entered an apartment in the 1300 block of Hornby St. and found two shotguns and a pistol. Police had earlier received a call from a restaurant patron in the same block. While walking to his car after dinner, he heard the distinctive sound of a gun being “racked.” When he looked up he could see the gun being pointed at him from a balcony.

Officers were able to pinpoint the apartment and make the arrests.

Police File #05-242077 - Robbery
October 1 st , 12:50 am – A security guard received minor cuts from a fleeing thief after chasing him from the 7-11 at 500 Abbott St . The man pulled the knife when the security guard challenged him after he tried to shoplift a sandwich. A fight ensued inside the store and a second fight started outside the store when another security guard arrived and was confronted by an accomplice.

The two guards chased the men to the 100 block of Keefer St. , where they pointed something in the air which produced a loud bang before escaping on the Skytrain.

The guards said both men were white and in their twenties. One of the men was 6'3”, 220 lbs. with a large build and short blonde hair. He was wearing a yellow t-shirt and baggy blue jeans. The other man was 5'10”, 170 lbs., with a muscular build. His light blonde hair was crew cut and he was wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans.

Police File #05-242556 – Gun Call
October 1 st , 3:00 pm – Charges are pending against three men after police seized a sawed-off shotgun and some ammunition from an apartment in the 1200 block of W.Broadway. After receiving a tip about the gun, the Emergency Response Team was called in and traffic on W. Broadway was blocked off.

The three men, age 39, 44 and 49 are all Vancouver residents.

Police File #05-242855 - Stabbing
October 1 st , 10:30 pm – Investigators are looking for six or seven Asian men after a stabbing in front of the Joyce St. Skytrain. While in a pizza store in the area, a man looked out the window and became afraid after seeing the group outside, as they appeared to be waiting for him. When the store owner offered to call police, he refused.

He ran out into the street and was immediately attacked, only realizing later that he had been stabbed. He ran into another business and police and ambulance were called. His liver was punctured in the attack. He remains in hospital in critical, but stable, condition.

The description of the attackers was limited: six to seven Asian men, possibly Vietnamese or Philippino, 16 to 20 years old, all with short, dark hair and wearing dark clothing, possibly with puffy jackets. One was wearing white track pants.

The relationship between the people involved has not yet been determined.

Police File #05-243398 - Assault
October 2 nd , 3:10 pm – A 15-year-old boy was taken to Children's Hospital with a concussion, lacerations and bruising after he was hit over the head with a golf club. The boy was with two friends in the area of 24 th and Brant when three Native Indian youths approached them. One of the youths said something to him and then hit him with the golf club.

He told police the youths were between 15 and 17 years of age and that he may have recognized one of them.

Police File #05-243579 – Robbery
October 2 nd , 9:25 pm – A 39-year-old Vancouver woman has minor injuries after her backpack was ripped from her back in the 300 block of E.60 th Ave. A man came up behind her, grabbed the pack and pulled her to the ground. She lost her passport, her cell phone and cash.

The man was 20 to 30 years old, 5'6” and possibly white.

Vancouver has had 120 purse snatching to date this year.
.


That shows you how safe Canada is.;);).

^^Oh no, somebody build a wall, quickly. Druggies, ahaha.

Crime is a common pattern among major port cities. Take a look at Sydney, HK, Los Angeles, Miami......

thank you helsnkiborg.
My friend Ash went to live in Vancouver for a little while, and he was mugged, and had his cell stolen. LOL! He was only there maybe a few weeks.
Now, I know this obviously doesn't happen all the time, but Jesus, one Windsor kid just happens to get mugged!?
I've heard other things as well, but mostly pertaining to drugs and homless people.That's some bad luck for your friend. I've lived in Vancouver my entire life and haven't had any problems. Part of it might be simple street sense though.

Regarding the homeless... I think it is one of those things that has gotten worse, especially over the last five years. It's just brutal. It's got something to do with the fact that it's more difficult to get on welfare, or something of that nature.

I've gotten my house looted once, and the three other times, it was a break-in with one of those with the guy still inside the house.

thank you helsnkiborg.
My friend Ash went to live in Vancouver for a little while, and he was mugged, and had his cell stolen. LOL! He was only there maybe a few weeks.
Now, I know this obviously doesn't happen all the time, but Jesus, one Windsor kid just happens to get mugged!?
I've heard other things as well, but mostly pertaining to drugs and homless people.

Iv lived in Greater Vancouver my whole life and I don't know of anyone who's ever been mugged. In highschool I left my wallet on the bus (once on the Hastings bus) several time and I always got it back with the money still in it.

Compare Vancouver's crime rate to that of any major American city, we arnt even that much worse than Toronto. Violent attacks are rare for Metro like Vancouver and most are targeted.

Oh. I was thinking more about muggings. :)

Yea. Everyone I know has had a break-in or multiple break-ins. It's only happened to me once, with my car. A lot of it is drug related apparently.

"Everyone I know has had a break-in or multiple break-ins." Are you serious? Where exactly do you live?

Vancouver definatly has some great attributes buts its crime rate isn't one of them.
Vic/Van have always had high crime rates.
Its a thing with WesternCanada.
Except for Calgary which has a crime rate slightly below the national average, all major WesternCanadian cities, without exception, have crime rates very significantly above the national average.

Poor Phnom Penh, my home town. =(

"Everyone I know has had a break-in or multiple break-ins." Are you serious? Where exactly do you live?I live in Kitsilano now. My break-in occurred years ago in the underground parking area when I was living in Kerrisdale, which is on the west side of Vancouver. They happen all over the place. I exaggerate when I say "everyone I know". I've got relatives up in Fort St. John, and I don't think they've been broken into. :) Let me just say that most people I know, who live in the Lower Mainland, have had this problem. Alarm companies have more than enough work here - high demand. If you don't have some sort of protection for your home or car, you're almost guaranteed to get broken into sooner or later. If you play the game smart, you'll have no problems. You sound surprised.

Okay, where is the 'lower mainland', sounds like quite a troublesome spot, I'll have to avoid it if I visit.

That's some bad luck for your friend. I've lived in Vancouver my entire life and haven't had any problems. Part of it might be simple street sense though.

Regarding the homeless... I think it is one of those things that has gotten worse, especially over the last five years. It's just brutal. It's got something to do with the fact that it's more difficult to get on welfare, or something of that nature.

I don't think their numbers are increasing, but they are being pushed out of their traditional areas (notably DTES) by police, and this displacement has caused them to pop up in unexpected places all around the city (where police presence isn't as high). That's the tradeoff for gentrifying the DTES.

Unless the flow of drugs can be stopped (which common sense dictates is almost impossible), I just don't see how this problem will ever resolve itself.

Agreed. Look at Miami & LA. They have the same problems. Most major port cities have drug problems and that's the result of all the crime around Vancouver.

If you look at Victoria (across the straight) it's a completely different stat.

But kudos to Calgary for making the list. I still think it's a vertical suburb but i'm sure it would make a great city for families.

Okay, where is the 'lower mainland', sounds like quite a troublesome spot, I'll have to avoid it if I visit. :lol:

^hahahahahaha

The Lower Mainland is the Fraser Valley in southwestern BC. It contains all of Vancouver and its surrounding cities. Have fun visiting Vancouver without entering the Lower Mainland!

edit:

Here is a map:
http://www.bctravel.com/van/van.gif

If someone hasn't said it already I will be the first... As a reply to that person saying Vancouver has the highest crime rates in the country... WRONG... Regina, sadly, holds that title and has held it for many years, and Saskatoon is second on the list.

If someone hasn't said it already I will be the first... As a reply to that person saying Vancouver has the highest crime rates in the country... WRONG... Regina, sadly, holds that title and has held it for many years, and Saskatoon is second on the list.

Unfortunately, it's true. :(

Winnipeg leads homicide rate among big cities

By TERRY WEBER

Thursday, October 6, 2005 Posted at 9:24 AM EDT

Globe and Mail Update

Winnipeg had the highest homicide rate among Canada's nine biggest cities in 2004, with the number of victims in that centre nearly doubling compared with the year before, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

But when all centres with populations of more than 100,000 were considered, Regina topped the list, even though the actual number of victims in that city last year was less than a third of the number recorded in Winnipeg.

Overall, Canada's homicide rate jumped 12 per cent in 2004, after touching a 30-year low the previous year, the government agency said.

The 2004 rate in Canada was 1.95 homicides — including both murder and manslaughter — for every 100,000 residents, up from 1.73 in 2003. Last year's rate was also 3 per cent higher than the average seen over the last decade.

Together, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal accounted for three-quarters of the increase, Statscan said.

Among Canada's biggest cities — those with populations of 500,000 or more — Winnipeg reported 34 victims for a rate of 4.89, up from 18 victims in 2003 and a rate that year of 2.61. Manitoba's homicide rate of 4.27 victims for every 100,000 residents was the second highest for that province since records started being kept in 1961.

Edmonton followed closely. That city also had 34 victims for a homicide rate of 3.39 per 100,000 residents.

Toronto — where recent gun violence has crowded the headlines in recent months — the rate declined slightly to 1.80 in 2004, from 1.85 in 2003. Last year, the city reported 94 homicides, down from 95 in 2003. Toronto ranked fifth in terms of homicide rates among cities with a population of 500,000 or more.

Statistics Canada looked at homicide rates in major centres in two categories. The first compared the country's nine biggest cities by grouping centres of 500,000 people or more.

The second grouping looked at centres with populations of between 100,000 and 500,000.

In that grouping, Regina ranked highest, with a homicide rate of 4.98 victims for every 100,000 residents. In 2004, Regina had 10 homicide victims, unchanged from the year before.

According to Thursday's report, the number of gun-related killings rose in 2004, but was still slightly below the average over the past decade.

In 2004, there were 172 homicides committed with firearms nationally, 11 more than the year before and 20 more than in 2002. But Statscan also noted that the 2004 number was also below the 10-year average of 176 firearms-related killings.

“During the past 10 years, the proportion of homicides involving a firearm has remained fairly stable, ranging from 26 per cent to 34 per cent,” the government agency said.

“In 2004, the proportion was 28 per cent.”

By comparison, in the United States, two-thirds of all homicide victims were killed with a firearm in 2003, more than double the proportion seen in Canada.

In 2004, Manitoba had the highest provincial rate of homicides involving firearms. Over the past decade, the highest rates on average have been seen in British Columbia and Quebec.

Since 2001, handguns have consistently accounted for about two-thirds of all firearms related killings. Last year, 65 per cent of all gun-related homicides were committed with handguns.

Overall, Statscan said the bulk of homicides committed last year were carried out by someone known to the victim. About half were committed by an acquaintance and a third by a family member. Only 15 per cent were committed by someone unknown to the victim.

For the third year in a row, the number of spousal homicides declined in 2004. Last year, police reported 74 people killed by a spouse, down from 78 the year before.

“Even so, they still accounted for about one in six solved homicides and almost one-half of all family homicides,” Statscan noted.

Women were far more likely to be killed by a spouse than men. The rate of spousal homicide against women was five times higher than the corresponding rate for men last year, Statscan said.

Thursday's study also found a decline last year in the number of homicides committed by youths. In total, people aged 12 to 17 were responsible for a total of 40 killings last year, down from 57 in 2003.

The agency also said figures suggest 70 of last year's victims were killed by someone believed to be suffering from a mental illness.

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/051006/d051006b.htm

...we arnt even that much worse than Toronto...


LOL!!! But still worse!

Crime is a common pattern among major port cities. Take a look at Sydney, HK, Los Angeles, Miami......

Point being?

It's okay to have high crime in port cities. But what is the reason, can't be just weather.

Point being?

Having an International port makes Vancouver a transfer point of criminal activity to destinations in the rest of Canada & NA. (Illegal cars, illegal drugs, illegal firearms, etc.) Unfortunately, most of this goes undetected by customs.

Vancouver's port has been a boon for the local black market... This leads to increased gang activity, and the many problems that come with it: drugs, prostitution, illegal trading, etc. etc.

I hope it wasn't acceptance of crime just because it's a port city.....that would be the absolute backwards way of looking at the problem.

I hope it wasn't acceptance of crime just because it's a port city.....that would be the absolute backwards way of looking at the problem.

No one's overlooking crime as a fact of life, but at this time it's hard to deal with the problem when police resources are stretched thin.

There's also the problem of druggies from all over the country settling in Vancouver. A lot of them are from Quebec and Ontario. Even homeless social services have to be offered in FRENCH for many individuals! Vancouver's becoming Canada's San Francisco.

Of course, to add insult to injury, Vancouver's real estate prices have outpaced income, and making ends meet in Vancouver is admittedly harder than in Toronto or Montreal.

Well look at the image that has bestowed Vancouver....it's basically known as the drug capital of Canada...of course it's going to draw many from the lower rung of society to their city. If they were truely serious of attacking Vancouver's drug culture, there's nothing other than resources and a lack of commitment that can hold them back. I don't know B.C.'s politics too well, but has anyone ever vowed to seriously crack down on it over there? By which I mean, not only cracking down on the dealers and peddlers, but actually educating young people before they start down the road and providing effective rehabilitation programs. Not so much with the pot smokers, but definitely the ones that are doing harsh drugs.

^^ Valid point. Vancouver tends to be a bit Liberal on drug policies, and given that Vancouver was once of the first places to open Marijuana Cafes (Da Kine on Commerical Drive), it is somewhat hard in this city to be tough on drug use... but the city is trying to find innovative (yet contreversial) rehab policies aka. The Four Pillars Policy that might someday help remediate this problem. Of course, implementing "free injection sites" could have a chance of backfiring and ruin the whole plan altogether.

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/fourpillars/

http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/prevent/substance.html

The perception that Vancouver's a drug haven doesn't help either. Even when there's raids and arrests, people from across the country still hop on the train and head out West for drugs.

^ By saying "free injection sites" you mean "safe injection sites" I assume. Apparently it has dramatically reduced the number of overdoses in the area. Not everyone uses them, but a lot do. The other good thing is, people aren't spreading disease as much. As for getting them off heroin, I'm not sure how that's going. The Four Pillars thingy really only focuses on the heroin issue, but it's something at least.

"Vancouver tends to be a bit Liberal on drug policies" <<< I'd say the courts are being pansies or the laws need to be harsher on the dealers. A significant number of dealers have come from places like central america. They get caught selling whatever drug, get thrown out of the country and they're back in Vancouver before you get your next pay check. Same sort of deal can be said for car thieves...

Regarding the marijuana grow-ops... forget it, they may as well put up the white flag now. The police probably woudn't be working so hard on those raids if it weren't for US pressure.

OK how many BC residents know someone who makes their living from a life of crime?


































Unfortunatly I do, but it's not violent, and not illegal in some coutries.

If I remember correctly, drug offenses is federal jurisdiction, and the best way may be to tighten up laws at that level.

Yes. Also, BC ranks pretty average when it comes to percentage of people convicted of their charged offence and also with length of term. In Canada overall, we're pretty tame with how we penalize convicted criminals compared to other countries.

If someone hasn't said it already I will be the first... As a reply to that person saying Vancouver has the highest crime rates in the country... WRONG... Regina, sadly, holds that title and has held it for many years, and Saskatoon is second on the list.
just on the tv.. a bunch of vietnamese kids and a bunch of filipino kids were attacking each other. err.. adults .. err not-too-young aduls. :bash: