A Safer City
making Edmonton a safer, more connected city
Too many Edmontonians no longer feel safe, whether they’re taking the bus, visiting downtown, or simply walking in their neighbourhood. Although overall crime rates are down, litter, vandalism and increased public disorder are creating negative experiences in our public spaces.
We need to foster vibrant, inclusive and welcoming public spaces that everyone can enjoy and be proud of. At the same time, we need to take care of the vulnerable Edmontonians who often don’t have adequate places to go to for help.
My Safer City Plan has three pillars:
Creating Safer Communities
Making Public Transit Safer
Standing Up for a Safer Edmonton
Creating Safer Communities
Edmontonians feel unsafe despite consistent increases to the police budget and one of the highest rates of police funding in Canada. It’s time for us to complement our strong police resources by expanding other resources that properly address underlying social issues like poverty, mental health, addiction, and housing.
Balance Prevention and Enforcement
Maintain the existing Edmonton Police Funding Formula, providing predictability and managing the effects of population growth, inflation, and projected operations.
Set expectations for accountability and transparency for spending.
Implement regular reviews of the police funding formula in response to city needs.
Reset the relationship with the Edmonton Police Commission and the new Edmonton Police Chief to provide the productive collaboration Edmontonians deserve.
Work towards creating a Community Safety and Wellbeing funding formula that streamlines and stabilizes this work.
Recommit to and strengthen the City of Edmonton’s MMIWG2S+ Action Plan to support local and community based efforts to eradicate violence against Indigenous Peoples.
Maximize Policing Resources
Support Community Peace Officers and Police to coordinate, share information, and leverage existing resources.
Expand the successful REACH Crisis Diversion teams, reducing wait times, and freeing up more enforcement resources to focus on where they’re needed most.
Reinstate and expand a coordinated outreach program, in partnership with non-profits and Indigenous-led organizations.
Apply a Public Health Approach
Adopt a public health approach to violence prevention, which uses collective action to increase the health, safety, and wellbeing of Edmonton residents.
Apply learnings from other cities, such as Baltimore, which is seeing its lowest homicide rate in 50 years.
Leverage City facilities such as libraries, parks, recreations centres, and community leagues to deliver prevention-focused programming.
Re-evaluate community funding to align with measurable outcomes and evidence-based solutions.
Work with the province to increase supports for mental health and substance use disorders, including medical detox, recovery, harm reduction, housing, and treatment facilities, as well as culturally-appropriate, Indigenous-led spaces.
Collaborate with social agencies, the private sector, and, if possible, the province to create more warming and day shelter spaces with wraparound supports, providing vulnerable Edmontonians safe alternatives from spaces unequipped to meet their needs.
Making Public Transit Safer
I take the concerns of residents seriously. No one should feel scared taking the LRT or bus. I’m committed to creating a welcoming and vibrant public transit system by expanding the Transit Safety Program, adding Station Attendants, enabling activations in stations, and implementing crime prevention designs.
Increase Safety and Outreach Staff
Increase the number of Community Peace Officers and teams that partner enforcement officers with social workers throughout the transit system to keep pace with the expansion of our transit system and our population growth.
These staff members not only increase safety for passengers, but they also help connect those in need with resources to get back on their feet.
Apply Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles to new transit stations and high incident stations.
Create Welcoming Transit Stations
Place attendants at public transit stations to provide customer service and create a sense of safety.
Increase community involvement with artists, community organizations, and businesses at transit centres to bolster vibrancy.
Collaborate with festivals, businesses, and community initiatives to boost ridership and create enriching experiences.
Standing Up for a Safer Edmonton
Edmonton has experienced devastating losses at the hands of repeat offenders out on bail. We also have one of the highest percentages of people out on parole in Canada. This situation must be addressed through thoughtful bail reform, along with programs that provide pathways out of crime. I will work with all levels of government to ensure those exiting the prison system don’t affect the safety of Edmontonians.
Advocate for Increased Community Supports
Funding for prevention programs has not kept up with population growth and inflation.
I will push the provincial government to increase funding for Edmonton’s Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program so we can effectively support early prevention and increase the safety and wellbeing of residents.
Expand the capacity of the Edmonton Indigenous Courts and increase Indigenous-led programming in the justice system.
Call on Governments for the Following Justice System Improvements
Ensure everyone being released from prison or government care is provided with housing plans to help them reintegrate and escape negative patterns.
Active case management for all offenders being released into Edmonton.
Increase the number of judges to reduce court backlogs and ensure cases are prosecuted.
Push for Bail Reform
Press the federal government to enact further bail reform to make our streets safer.
Ask for support for programs that reduce repeat offenses, including addictions services, housing, mental health supports, and community reintegration.
