Editorial: Bad attention could be good … eventually

New crime statistics have given the city a black eye.

Statistics Canada released its crime rate numbers for 2010, which shows Thunder Bay has regained the infamous title as no. 1 in Canada for homicides. The news, which comes as a result of five reported homicides in 2010, is bad on its own. Unfortunately it isn’t the only unfavourable number.

Add in that Thunder Bay is ranked no. 4 for overall violent crime, and you’ve got statistics that can make the proudest resident blush with embarrassment. 

Police Chief J.P.Levesque was quick to point out that crime rate is a reflection of a city’s social problems. He’s not the only one who believes this.

Many have been saying for years that crime will continue to be an issue as long as social issues are left to fester.

Resolving these social issues, which many argue include more detox beds and funding for social programs, always seems to run into a fiscal wall. And that might be where we find a silver lining.

A sensational statistic, like the homicide rate, will likely help Thunder Bay get the attention it needs from the federal and provincial governments.

If that attention turns into dollars, the city might get the detox beds as well as other social programming needed to curb crime.

In the end, the city might not be able to change its 2010 crime rate, but maybe it can find the help it needs to get better results in 2012, 2013 and so on.