Lead exposure and violent crime in Manitoba

Increasing evidence from many sources links the lead exposure pregnant mothers and young children to increased violent crime when the children are age 18 to 25. On October 10th, I asked the Minister of Justice what we was doing to understand whether the government was looking at this link and whether it was acting to look at whether this was one of the reasons for the high violent crime in Manitoba.

Violent Crime Statistics
Lead Exposure Link

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Manitoba has a disturbingly high level of violent crime. Under the present Conservative government the violent Crime Severity Index has risen by more then 30 points to reach 169.8; no other province has seen anything comparable.

Manitoba may have a large increase in crime under this government because the government has done little to address poverty, homelessness, mental health or addictions. Alternatively, as I table, increasing evidence links violent crime to lead exposure, and lead exposure details have been covered up for years in Manitoba.

Will the government ensure action is taken rather than more study and stall?

Hon. Cliff Cullen (Minister of Justice and Attorney General): Well, Madam Speaker, while the member's reading the information pertaining to the Chief Medical Examiner, I will also send him over a copy of our Manitoba's Policing and Public Safety Strategy. This strategy was developed in consultation with police forces across Manitoba and stakeholders.

Now, we know we are taking the collaborative approach by working with police agencies across the province. We know what the NDP platform is: the NDP platform was to get rid of the RCMP here in Manitoba.

That is not our approach. Our approach is a collaborative approach, and we're working through this strategy. We're working with all stakeholders to provide public safety to all Manitobans.

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