December 18, 2008
THOUSANDS OF DRINKING DRIVERS PUT ON NOTICE
VANCOUVER – Solicitor General John van Dongen announced up to 4,000 more British Columbians whose driving records show evidence of drinking and driving will be forced to provide breath samples every time they operate their vehicles, under B.C.'s ignition interlock program. The Minister was joined by representatives of the RCMP, Vancouver Police and other traffic safety organizations for the event in Yaletown.
 
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December 11, 2008
SAANICH INTEGRATED POLICE/FIRE COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE OFFICIALLY OPENED
SAANICH – Solicitor General John van Dongen officially opened the new centre on December 11, 2008. The centre provides 9-1-1 service to all fire departments on the Saanich peninsula and Saanich and Oak Bay police departments. Joining him were Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA, the Honourable Ida Chong, and Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard.
  
 
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December 5, 2008
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
VICTORIA – John van Dongen attends the National Day of Remembrance and Action to End Violence Against Women (Dec. 6, 2008) ceremony at the Legislature. Candles were lit to acknowledge the memory of those who have died as a result of violence against women. Joining Minister van Dongen are Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport and Billy Bingaman, Project Respect prevention educator, Women’s Sexual Assault Centre.
  
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November 25, 2008
$200,000 MORE CIVIL FORFEITURE CASH SUPPORTS COMMUNITY PROJECTS
VICTORIA – On November 25, Solicitor General John van Dongen announced an additional $200,000 in funding for targeted, local crime prevention and victim service programs. This funding from civil forfeiture brings the total provincial support to $750,000 for this year alone.
  
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November 20, 2008
POLICE HONOURED FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE
VICTORIA – RCMP and municipal police officers who have performed an exemplary service to the citizens of British Columbia were honoured at an annual ceremony at Government House.
  
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November 17, 2008
MEDIA TOUR OF PEP HEADQUARTERS, DOMSAT UNVIELED
SAANICHTON – Public Safety Minister John van Dongen, Environment Minister Barry Penner, and Advanced Education Minister/Saanich North and the Islands MLA Murray Coell, are shown the Province's new DOMSAT satellite system during a tour of the Provincial Emergency Program's new facility in Central Saanich. The Ministry of Environment's DOMSAT system will reduce the time needed to retrieve critical data to warn British Columbians about potential flooding.
 
 
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October 18, 2008
GIFT CARD EXPIRY DATES, FEES BANNED NOV. 1
VANCOUVER - Solicitor General John van Dongen was joined by Max Logan, B.C. director for the Retail Council of Canada, to announce new regulations banning expiry dates and fees on most gift cards sold in the province. The announcement of the changes, which will better protect consumers' interests, took place in Vancouver's busy Robson Street shopping area on Oct. 18, 2008.
  
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October 17, 2008
UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP FORMED AT GOVERNMENT SRO HOTELS
VANCOUVER - Solicitor General John van Dongen joined Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman and Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu to announce a partnership with the non-profit operators of 17 government-owned single room occupancy hotels to enhance communications and clearly establish procedures to ensure safe, secure and supportive housing.
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October 16, 2008
POLICE, ICBC TARGET B.C.'S MOST-STOLEN TYPE OF VEHICLE
SURREY - Solicitor General John van Dongen joined police and ICBC representatives to announce two measures aimed at thieves of B.C.'s most-stolen type of vehicle, Ford F-Series trucks. The launch of more trucks in the bait-car fleet and a free vehicle immobilizer offer for owners of certain F-Series followed the release of statistics showing vehicle theft is down by nearly half in B.C. since 2003.
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October 6, 2008
LAUNCH OF "ROAD RANGE"
VICTORIA – Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety John van Dongen attended the launch of the “Road Range”, a state-of-the-art mobile shooting range purchased by the Saanich Police Department with traffic fine revenues returned to the municipality by the province of British Columbia
The range allows police officers to train in low and no-light scenarios in the self-contained and ballistically-secure unit. It also captures spent ammunition in a way that is safe for both the officers and the environment. And, it is quieter than traditional outdoor ranges.
“Acquisition of the Road Range is an excellent example of the willingness of Saanich Council to find innovative and cost-effective policing solutions – and it is in keeping with the commitment of all levels of government for greener choices,” said van Dongen.
Since 2004 the provincial government has provided 100% of traffic fine revenue to municipalities. In the last two years alone this was a total of $3.25 million that is available to Saanich to enhance public safety.
  
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October 6, 2008
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
VICTORIA – Public Safety Minister John van Dongen, Matt and Nicole Cave and Sparky the Fire Dog join fire service personnel from various South Island fire departments to recognize Fire Prevention Week in B.C.
 
  
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September 19, 2008
CIVIL FORFEITURE SUCCESS
VANCOUVER – Joined by Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu, Solicitor General John van Dongen releases a progress report on the success of the Province's two-year old civil forfeiture program. The latest forfeited, high-end vehicle - a Mercedes Benz - was also unveiled.
The program has consistently delivered bad news to those who engage in unlawful activity and good news to other British Columbians. More than $1.1 million in ill-gotten gains has been acquired to support crime prevention and victims of crime.
 
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September 5, 2008
$16 MILLION FOR FLOOD PROTECTION IN B.C.
MISSION – Communities in all regions of British Columbia – from the Kootenays to Vancouver Island, and from the Interior to the Bulkley Valley – will benefit from a variety of cost-shared flood protection initiatives announced on September 25, 2008 by the governments of Canada and British Columbia. Sixteen million dollars will be spent this year on 25 new flood protection initiatives across the province. These initiatives include armouring existing dikes for erosion control and building new floodwater pumping stations and flood debris traps under the Building Canada infrastructure plan.
 
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July 25, 2008
FIRST CIVIL FORFEITURE VEHICLES DISPLAYED
VANCOUVER – Two SUVs that were alleged to have been used to deliver drugs on Vancouver Island have become the first vehicles forfeited to the Province under a civil forfeiture action, Solicitor General John van Dongen announced today.
One is a chrome-laden, black 2003 Hummer H2 with Lamborghini-style hydraulic doors, a $16,000 custom audio system with four huge rear-facing speakers, a navigation system, and TV screens mounted in the front headrests of its beige leather seats. The other is a white 2002 GMC Denali with large chrome “spinner” wheels, a grey leather interior and tinted windows. The vehicles, worth an estimated $60,000, are now are open to bidding until Aug. 5 at www.bcauction.ca online.
 
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July 19, 2008
GROUSE MOUNTAIN TRAIL SENSE DAYS
VANCOUVER – Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General John van Dongen and Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Joan McIntyre joined AdventureSmart team members and Grouse Mountain Resorts staff at the base of the Grouse Grind to participate in Trail Sense Days. The annual event provides a fun and interactive learning experience for hikers, teaching them about the three Ts of backcountry safety: trip planning, training and the 10 essentials. For more information on the three Ts and backcountry safety, visit www.adventuresmart.ca
 
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June 11, 2008
RED CROSS RECEIVES $2 MILLION FOR CHINA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
BURNABY – Solicitor General John van Dongen presents a cheque for two million dollars to the Canadian Red Cross in Burnaby. The funding will be used for China earthquake relief.
  
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June 11, 2008
A DIALOGUE ON RESILIENCE
VANCOUVER – Solicitor General John van Dongen addressed an international audience, outlining B.C.'s advancements and partnerships in emergency management to strengthen the Province's resilience when critical incidents occur.
May 24, 2008
$2.7 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN VICTIM SERVICES ACROSS B.C.
SURREY – On May 24, police and victim services representatives were on hand as Solicitor General John van Dongen announced a rise in overall provincial funding for B.C.'s 156 police- and community-based victim service programs to $12.6 million for 2008/09.
Solicitor General John van Dongen announced that front-line services to crime victims will receive an average funding increase of 22 per cent this year, as the Province injects $2.7 million more into victim service programs. The solicitor general was joined by victim services and police representatives including Corrine Arthur, B.C. Association of Specialized Victim Assistance and Counselling Programs, and Carolyn Sinclair, executive director, Police Victim Services of B.C.
  
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May 22, 2008
ENVIRONMENT CANADA WEATHERADIO TO BE ADDED TO B.C. PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM (PENS)
VICTORIA – Solicitor General John von Dongen and Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Chuck Strahl announce the installation of a Weatheradio on Mount Ozzard on Vancouver Island. This new Weatheradio will broadcast tsunami warnings to the areas of Tofino, Ucluelet and Bamfield.
  
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May 9, 2008
FLOOD MITIGATION INITIATIVES IDENTIFIED FOR PRIORITY FEDERAL FUNDING
RICHMOND – Solicitor General John van Dongen joined Minister of Public Safety Canada Stockwell Day in Richmond on May 9, where minister Day announced the federal government was partnering with the Province and providing $60 million in dedicated funding for flood mitigation projects in British Columbia.
  
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May 3, 2008
MOCK EVACUATION, SALUTE TO VOLUNTEERS KICK OFF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK
VANCOUVER – To kick off Emergency Preparedness Week 2008, May 4-10, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General John van Dongen participated in a mock evacuation exercise and released a bumper sticker recognizing the tremendous role of British Columbia's 13,000 public safety lifeline volunteers within B.C's emergency management system. Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan joined Minister van Dongen at the event.
  
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April 29, 2008
SPEEDERS TARGETED IN MAY CAMPAIGN
BURNABY – Solicitor General John van Dongen, left, was joined by RCMP Inspector Norm Gaumont and other road-safety partners to launch an $800,000 speed and high–risk driving awareness campaign April 29. The month-long campaign by ICBC and police includes enhanced speed enforcement, volunteer Speed Watch deployments in high–crash locations, and advertising in communities across the province. In 2006, approximately 5,200 people were injured in 8,200 speed-related crashes in B.C.
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April 22, 2008
RCMP PACIFIC REGION LEADERS' CONFERENCE
CHILLIWACK – Solicitor General John van Dongen spoke to commanding officers at the RCMP's Pacific Region Leaders' Conference about their role as partners in ensuring public safety in British Columbia
April 17, 2008
GREATER VICTORIA POLICE VICTIMS SERVICES CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
VICTORIA – The launch of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week and 25th Anniversary of Greater Victoria Police Victims Services. An opportunity to raise awareness about the needs of victims, celebrate accomplishments in advancing victim's rights in British Columbia, and acknowledge the dedication and work of victim service providers. This may also include highlighting new one-time funding projects as a result of increase in funding from the Victims of Crime Act special account.
April 11, 2008
PRIME-BC STRENGTHENING LAW ENFORCEMENT PROVINCEWIDE
KELOWNA – Solicitor General John van Dongen joins RCMP and municipal police to announce that the Police Records Information Management Environment (PRIME) now links every police detachment and department in B.C. This is a North American milestone in police intelligence-gathering and information-sharing. Thirteen independent policing agencies and 110 RCMP detachments are linked through PRIME.
  
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