At a Glance - August 9, 2023

EDBA Launches Night Patrol Teams

The Edmonton Downtown Business Association (EDBA) announced it will be launching a new initiative to help Edmontonians feel safer in the core at night. The Edmonton Downtown Night Patrol will operate seven days a week from 12:30 am to 8:30 am. EDBA stated that they hope that by launching this initiative, they will help improve public safety while also addressing social issues.

According to EDBA, two teams comprising a security professional and a peer support worker will conduct patrols of streets, alleys, and public spaces. After a competitive bidding process, it was announced that the security officers would be provided by Blackwoods Security, a company owned by Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, and the peer support workers would be supplied by Hiregood – a social arm of Boyle Street Community Services.

While the first report from the night patrol teams will not be released until next month, the official model will have launched on city streets Thursday.

Mental Health and Addictions Mandate Letter Released

On Wednesday, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Dan Williams received his mandate letter from Premier Smith. Contained within the letter was a call for Williams to review numerous aspects of AHS and specifically address its role in mental health care. Williams was also directed to work “collaboratively with community and government partners to develop compassionate intervention legislation, supporting facilities and legal processes to save the lives of those that are a danger to themselves or others.”

The legislation for the Compassionate Intervention Act was proposed by the UCP during the spring election campaign as part of their broader promise to ensure “safe streets” if re-elected. The UCP outlined that if the legislation comes to pass, it will allow a family member, doctor, or police officer to petition the court for a treatment order when someone is determined to be a danger to themselves or others.

Several critics of the proposed legislation have raised their concerns that the if the Compassionate Intervention Act comes to fruition, it may disproportionately affect already marginalized groups and potentially violate charter rights.

Alberta Halting Pursuit of Provincial Police Force

After the absence of directives to implement a provincial police force were noted in both Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis and Justice Minister Mickey Amery’s mandate letters, the UCP government has announced they will no longer be formally pursuing its plan to dump the RCMP in favor of a new provincial police force.

Minister of Justice, Mickey Amery, clarified that the idea is not dead and his department will continue to consult with Albertans on where they desire the future of policing in the province to lead.

The apparent decision to back off their aggressive drive to replace the RCMP comes after multiple municipalities expressed concerns over cost and staffing if Alberta were to transition to a provincial police force. The president of RMA, Paul McLauchlin, stated that he sees Amery’s mandate as a step in the right direction.

Decision Released on COVID-19 Restrictions

A Calgary Judge, Justice Barbara Romaine, ruled that the Public Health Act was breached when politicians, instead of the chief medical officer of health (CMOH), made a final decision on health restrictions. The consequence of this ruling may be that Albertans charged with breaking pandemic-related laws could see their charges withdrawn.

This ruling is the result of a court action launched in December 2020, when a group of plaintiffs filed a lawsuit arguing pandemic-related public health measures were contrary to Alberta’s Bill of Rights and unlawfully breached Albertan’s charter rights. Romaine ultimately found that while former CMOH Dr. Deena Hinshaw made recommendations and implemented the restrictions, it was the cabinet that held power to make the final decision – which is not allowed under the Alberta Public Health Act.

The crown must now decide what action will be taken with several prosecutions that had been paused while awaiting Romaine’s decision. There is currently no timeline for when the crown will make a decision.