On Thursday evening, Former Vancouver Chief Constable, Jamie Graham, spoke to a group of interested individuals at Metro Restaurant as part of the Fraser Institute’s Behind the Spin series.
The event, titled ‘Tough Love: The Right Treatment for the Downtown Eastside?’ was preceded by a guided walk through Canada’s poorest postal code – the former Chief’s stomping grounds and the center of one of the most heated debates facing this country at the moment. Read more about the event and see exclusive video from the event, after the jump.
Graham spoke to a number of issues affecting British Columbia and Canadian Law Enforcement – Vancouver’s safe injection site, non-returnable warrants and poverty to name a few. In the audience, both the Prince of Pot, Marc Emery, and former DEA Agent, now pro-drug activist, Cele Castillo III, challenged Graham on a number of points during the heated Q&A period.
In the end it was clear – the role of the police is to enforce the law, not dictate policy around what should be enforced and not to treat individuals, whether they be drug-addicted or violent criminals. Vancouver’s Police Department, if consulted, may hold the keys to what needs to change to make Vancouver a safer city, but it will be up to the policymakers to sort our their differences and make this happen.
Video of Jamie Graham speaking about a violent assault in the Downtown Eastside:
Video of Jamie Graham speaking about the non-returnable warrant issue:
Video of Jamie Graham and the Prince of Pot, Marc Emery have a light exchange:
The original release from the Fraser Institute:
Tough Love: The Right Treatment for the Downtown Eastside?
Thursday, October 16th, 2008
A Conversation with Jamie Graham
If the problems of the Downtown Eastside could be solved solely by money, then the area would be a thriving, healthy community. Instead, this community remains Vancouver’s greatest challenge and the solution to its problems one of the most passionately argued policy areas. Drugs, homelessness, and crime threaten the lives of the area’s residents, as well as the livelihoods of local business people. Seven years into the Four Pillars Drug Strategy – what’s working and what’s not?
Jamie Graham is known for his no-nonsense approach to enforcing the law. Join us for a guided tour (optional) of some of the Downtown Eastside hotspots followed by a lively conversation about what can and should be done to deal with the issues facing this part of our city.
The next Behind the Spin event is Tuesday, November 18th and will involve the Honourable Chief Justice Donald Brenner speaking about moving Civil Justice into the 21st Century. You can read more about it on the Fraser Institute Website at www.fraserinstitute.org.
Sadly, I didn’t get to obambulate with the former Chief. Unbeknownst to me, the walkabout of the DTES was scheduled for earlier in the afternoon :/