Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro, pictured in 2021, said in a letter to the mayor of Edmonton that the capital does not keep its citizens safe. Todd Korol / The Canadian Press
The Alberta Minister of Justice has invoked his powers under the Provincial Police Act to force the City of Edmonton to strengthen police and develop a public safety plan to address downtown violence and public transportation.
In a letter to Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, Justice Minister Tyler Shandro said the capital does not keep its citizens safe and has given it two weeks to follow provincial orders. Critics have called Mr. Shandro of an exaggeration and have said he is evading responsibility.
But Mr. Shandro said the people of Edmonton deserve better. “They deserve to be able to travel by public transportation, visit restaurants, attend events and browse stores in a safe and welcoming environment,” he said in the letter. “I have a responsibility under the Police Act to ensure that the people of Edmonton receive the police protection they deserve.”
Edmonton, Calgary faces traffic safety issues amid a push to get riders back
Edmonton police charged after the recent attacks on racialized Albertans
Shandro pointed to data from the Edmonton Police Service showing that violent crime in the city center increased by 11% in 2021 compared to 2020. He also mentioned the recent deaths of two men, Ban Phuc Hoang. 61, and Hung, 64. Trang, who were randomly killed in Chinatown last week. This is in addition to other incidents of violence, frequent open drug use and what Mr. Shandro called it “irrational behavior.”
Edmonton police declined to comment on the province’s action.
The minister’s directive comes the same week that thousands of Edmonton residents gathered in city halls demanding action after the killings in the Chinatown. During that time, about $ 300,000 was spent to support the community. A debate on local police funding is scheduled for Friday.
Mr. Sohi said the city received no indication that the province was concerned about public safety issues in Edmonton until the letter was published. He said he finds it “a little rich” that the government is pointing the finger at Edmonton when “they have not fulfilled their responsibility to make our communities safe.” He said insufficient funding by the province is driving certain problems, such as homelessness and drug intoxication and mental health crises.
“Since I was elected, I have been raising these issues with the provincial government and I have asked them to take a step to help them deal with them,” Mr. Sohi. Bye now, has neglected these inquiries, he said.
He added that the two levels of government need to find ways to communicate better with each other and said a meeting is scheduled for next week.
The overall crime rate in Edmonton has dropped 17 percent, but some areas of the city are experiencing an increase in crime, he said. Sohi.
Under section 30 (1) of the Police Act, Mr. Shandro has the power to ask the city council to take the necessary actions that it considers when “a municipality responsible for providing and maintaining police services is not providing or maintaining adequate and effective services. Police services.” what the minister is asking for to include the ordered security plan.
Temitope Oriola, a professor of criminology at the University of Alberta who served as the province’s special adviser on police law, said Mr. Shandro is within his authority to direct changes to police in Edmonton, but that directive is an excess, calling it. “political theater.”
He said that the solution proposed by Mr. Shandro does not adequately address the many issues at stake, such as homelessness, addiction, and serious mental health problems. It is not a strictly police problem, Professor Oriola added, and it requires collaboration over the conflict.
“At a time of great public engagement and debate in the town hall regarding police funding, it seems to be taking sides on the issue,” said Professor Oriola. “This moment demands a sober, objective, non-partisan and collaborative commitment from leaders at all levels. We assume political theater and performativity and focus on helping people.”
Political scientist Keith Brownsey of Mount Royal University accepted that the province is exceeding its authority and added that “hypocrisy here is profound” given that Alberta is legally challenging the federal government’s use of the Emergency Law when the convoy protesters took over Ottawa.
We have a weekly newsletter from Western Canada written by our BC and Alberta office managers, which offers a complete package of news you need to know about the region and its place in the problems facing Canada. Sign up today.