Alberta’s justice minister faces criticism for his “strange” and “remarkably useless” comments he made in the legislature on Tuesday when an NDP MP asked him to help fight crime in the Chinatown.
Tyler Shandro stated that two men who died recently were the victims of shootings, which is not the information provided by the police or what the autopsies subsequently determined. He tweeted the exchange, in which he also accused Edmonton City Council of slashing the police budget by $ 22 million, which a couple of councilors immediately discussed.
Shandro shrugged and struggled to find an explanation Wednesday when CTV News Edmonton asked him how the victims in the Chinatown died.
“This is something they advised me on, I don’t know if I have any other information to tell you about it, if it was incorrect …” he turned off as he shook his head.
Shandro said “this is good” when CTV News Edmonton told him councilors had said his statements about the announcement of an “effective cut” were also inaccurate.
“Well, I think I’ve made it clear that I have concerns. The information they gave me is that it would be an essential $ 22 million cut, this proposal, so I have concerns with that. If they are respecting the independence of the police commission “Then I’m happy,” he said.
Shandro also said councilors did not advise or work with the police commission on the issue, but President John McDougall was in the room and spoke on May 18 when the issue was publicly discussed at a city council meeting. .
These actions are unacceptable, all Albertans deserve to live free from the fear of violence in their communities. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/oMcaSuslV6
– Tyler Shandro 🇺🇦 (@shandro) May 24, 2022
Coun. Aaron Paquette described Shandro’s initial comments as “strange” and explained that the council as a whole has yet to discuss or vote on changes to the police funding formula.
This proposal could freeze basic funding for the Edmonton Police Service by $ 385 million, which is a slight increase from the current level, but no final vote is expected until Friday.
“Minister, the city is always open to your questions and I know we will be happy to walk with you through Chinatown to help illustrate the challenges,” Paquette offered.
Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi called Shandro’s tweet a “remarkably useless contribution.”
What a useless contribution (there is no proposal to cut police funding on the table and how exactly would more police have helped in this situation?). https://t.co/3dfk8ymWob
– Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) May 25, 2022
Coun. Andrew Knack thanked Shandro for his comment, but explained that he was wrong to say that a cut had already been announced.
“EPS has received $ 22 million a year in revenue from photo radars. If that stops, and the city council has not subsequently added it to the tax base, there could be a cut. suggested at all, so the idea that the council is considering a cut in EPS funding is not accurate, “Knack wrote in a blog post aimed at clearing up the confusion.
$ 850,000 FOR CRIME ATTACKS
Shandro and Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee were part of an announcement Wednesday that the province will provide $ 850,000 over three years to Crime Stoppers, which has so far received no money from the government.
“This is money that will not only help fund Crime Stoppers’ core operations, but will allow them to expand their capacity to prevent crime,” Shandro said.
“That means everything from public education campaigns to working with the police to crack down on gangs and illegal gun activities.”
McFee explained that Crime Stoppers, which has been operating with donations and volunteers since 1983, is a vital tool for the police.
“In 2021 alone, Edmonton and Northern Alberta Crime Stoppers received more than 5,000 tips that led to the arrest of 183 people, 203 deleted cases, 749 charges and more than $ 670,000 in confiscated drugs,” McFee told reporters.
Across Alberta, Crime Stoppers is credited with assisting in 400 arrests by 2020, Shandro said.
The co-founder of the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative Society believes the investment will help, but she still hopes to have more officers in Chinatown.
“We need more police presence, we need more patrols on foot. The lack of police presence, even on bicycles, we need to engage the community to find out what’s going on in the area,” Sandy Pon told CTV News Edmonton.
Last week, McFee said he was rushing a plan to divert more agents to the core, and on Tuesday an EPS spokesman set the number at 30 to 50.
“I am concerned that the police are being used as a silver bullet for all social problems,” said criminologist Temitope Orihuela.
He believes Chinatown needs a broader security plan focused on mental health issues, homelessness and addiction.
Featuring Chelan Skulski files from CTV News Edmonton