Premier addresses rural crime at town hall meeting

Speaking to a full house the Premier says her government is taking steps to stomp out illegal activity and violent crimes, by hiring more officers and providing them with more support.

“It’s not just Calgary and Edmonton anymore. It’s also in our mid-sized cities. We’re seeing problems in Medicine Hat. We’re seeing Wetaskiwin, Lethbridge and we are also seeing problems in smaller communities.” said Smith.

Alberta Sheriffs have more funding to fight rural crime. With a budget increase of $27.3 million the Alberta Sheriffs will provide support to RCMP members responding to calls.

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis says Alberta Sheriffs are capable peace officers who are trained to protect the public.

“I just want when somebody calls 911 for somebody to go to the call. RCMP can still be the lead but as we all know in rural Alberta the geography is quite large and sometimes it may take a long time for that RCMP officer to get there and really if a sheriff is closer by and he’s fully trained, then go to the call,” said Ellis.

CHAT News spoke with a woman who is happy to hear the province is utilizing its resources to tackle complex policing issues.

“I like the fact that they are looking at different ways and looking for ways to collaborate with other organizations within the communities.”

Brooks Mayor John Petrie says the changes will allow local RCMP members to focus on illegal activity within the municipality.

“Reducing the RCMP on the highway, sheriffs on the highway that way we have the RCMP in town here, that’s where I think it could help,” said Petrie.

Residents attending the town hall shared their concerns about guns and drugs that are being smuggled into their community across the US border.

“These guns, they are not being used by lawful gun owners to commit crimes, they are actually being smuggled across the border or they are being stolen from lawful gun owners,” Said Ellis.

Minister Ellis spoke about crime stats in Alberta city by suspects out on bail.

In Edmonton over half the city’s homicides over the past three years have been committed by suspects out on bail, says Ellis.

“This is unacceptable and this is not something that is exclusive to Alberta. This is happening right across this country. And all of us provinces, regardless of our political stripe, are united on this issue that there needs to be substantive and immediate changes to the criminal code.”

The province says Ottawa needs to repeal bill C-75 and make changes around the justice system.

Minister Ellis says they have a commitment from the federal government that changes will be made to bill C-75 during its next session of parliament.

The province says they will continue lobbying the federal government until those changes have been made.

by Brendan Miller

Premier addresses rural crime at town hall meeting

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