‘An important sign’: province adds another round of funding to retail theft initiative

The province has pledged another three-quarters of a million dollars to continue funding the Violent Crime and Retail Theft (VCRT) initiative.

Wab Kinew said Thursday that the project — which will allow Winnipeg police to continue their crackdown on store thieves in areas including downtown, the West End, and Osborne Village — has been working to help keep people and businesses safe.

The additional $774,000 will allow the program to continue through September and October.

“There’s been an outpouring from business owners who have said that having the visible presence of the (Winnipeg Police Service) having the quick response, having people walking through the neighbourhood is really making a difference,” Kinew said.

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“For us, that’s an important sign.”

The premier said the initiative can help make a better community today, while working on root causes of crime like addictions and mental health is more of long-term project.

“The reality is that those investments are going to take time to show results,” Kinew said.

“As we invest in a long-term strategy to make more Manitobans well, and to improve safety with those long-term prevention measures, these are the type of steps we need to take today.”

Kinew, along with Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, police Supt. Dave Dalal, and other provincial and municipal officials, made the announcement from the Canadian Footwear store in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.

The VCRT, created last year in response to a rash of crime at local businesses, was extended through the summer thanks to provincial funding, after seeing initial results and positive feedback from businesses, law enforcement and government officials.

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