Ensuring victims d don't ' b become victims in the h first f place l Continued from page g 6 11 · Friday, December 2, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com imprison so many more people than we do. Texans tried the tough-on-crime approach but found it to be tough on taxpayers. Now that Texans have decided to try more conditional sentencing and community-based drug treatment, they have reduced the cost of dealing with crime by nine per cent and the crime rate by 14 per cent. More concerning to me was Mr. Young indicated Canada has a national mental health strategy. It does not. We are the only G8 country without such a strategy. The Canadian Mental Health Association is about to release a final report on such a strategy, in time for the health accord negotiations. The CMHA does not endorse the Crime Bill. Experts, governments and the public are well aware of the connection between mental health, addiction and crime. Investing in crime prevention measures, including a co-ordinated strategy to deal with mental illness and addiction will prevent serious crimes. Study after study proves it. Oakvillians are striving to make our community the most livable place in Canada, but we cannot easily access the mental health supports we need to deal with depression, personality disorders, youth issues and the like. As a family law lawyer I know this for a fact. I see it all the time. Serious crimes are appalling. As parents we have every right to be concerned when one in four of our female students graduate from university after being victim to a serious sexual assault. But criminal justice and community safety experts recommend the government invest our tax dollars on measures that really work. A $10,000 investment in an enhanced early mental health intervention system in our schools and communities can prevent a person from resorting to substance abuse and deterioration into a life of serious violent crime. It will also save taxpayers the $100,000 cost of incarcerating that person later on. Facts and experience say if Ottawa matched every dollar for prisons for locking up young men with another dollar for prevention and victim rights to create better futures for disadvantaged young men, Canada would be one of the safest countries. The result: true savings in both taxpayer dollars and in the unaccountable emotional cost of crime and punishment. Ultimately, the best way to elevate victim's rights is to ensure they don't become victims in the first place. Susan Berry, LL.B., Oakville HOLIDAY SPECIAL 5 DANCING LESSONS by yourself or as a couple e Sore Feet, Sports Injury, S Painful Ingrown Toenails? P Plantar Warts? We can help! P Exceptional footcare for all ages. · Routine fo f otcare · Corns & calluses · Plantar warts · Heel/a / rch/fo f ot pain · Diabetic fo f otcare and education · Thick or ing grown nails · Nail surg gery y · Sports related fo f ot problems & injuries · Custom made orthotics cs · Sigvaris® compression stockings · Evenings and saturday appointments available e · New patients welcome! J. Richard Werkman CHIROPODIST $ · more fun! · self confidence! · meet people! · grace & poise! gift certificates certificates available ·· gift available 25 New adult students only. OAKVILLE OAKVILLE 225 Lakeshore 225 LakeshoreRd RdE (2nd Floor) (2nd Floor) 905-815-3237 905-815-3237 1092 Main Main Street Street W W 1092 www.fredastaire.ca HAMILTON HAMILTON HAMILT L ON Visit our website for free information on What You Need To Know About Orthotics 1495 Cornwall Rd., Suite 33, Oakville locate ed on the north/west corner of maple grove dr. and cornwall rd. T: : 905-845-4817 www. wwwwerkman w.werkman.ca ca 905-522-3237 905-522-3237 Floor Model Event Hurry In! Sale Starts Dec. 3rd Absolutely Every Indoor Floor Model ON SALE up to 40 % OFF 29 Plains Road West Burlington 905-681-3355 3105 Winston Churchill Blvd. Mississauga 905-569-1101 www.hauserstores.com Why wait for boxing day? Dining · Barstools · Natuzzi Leather · Sectionals · Occasional Chairs · End & Cocktail Tables · Indoor Wicker