Stopping young people from stealing cars requires political and community leaders to "understand the gangs" often at the centre of the problem, federal Liberal deputy leader Michael Ignatieff said Thursday.
Fighting car theft involves more than creating tough laws and issuing harsh penalties, he said after meeting with Winnipeg's police chief and aboriginal officials.
The roots of car theft crimes include fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which impairs understanding of right and wrong, and even the fragile ties that bind members of underprivileged families, Ignatieff said.
"We need tough laws. We need tough, effective laws -- no question about that," Ignatieff told reporters. "But we need to work with all the people who understand these kids.
"We need to understand the problem and put together a full-spectrum solution," he said. "Full spectrum means: What's happening with parents? Why aren't the parents stepping up? Why are the parents sometimes supporting these criminal acts?"
Governments should look at making sentencing tougher, but also making sure criminals could "get back on the right track," Ignatieff said.
An author and intellectual who made an unsuccessful bid for his party's leadership in 2006, Ignatieff said he is touring Manitoba to learn more about crime and aboriginal issues. However, he was quick to add he does not see car theft as an aboriginal problem, nor Winnipeg as alone among cities battling car thieves.
His visit is also meant to demonstrate that Conservative government claims the Liberal party is soft on crime are unfounded, Ignatieff said.
He is touring northern Manitoba today with Churchill MP Tina Keeper.
The discussions in this province could make their way into the Liberal election platform, he and other party MPs said.
joe.paraskevas@freepress.mb.ca
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