'It's getting more dangerous': Edmonton organizations weigh in on violent crime increase
Canada's recent crime statistics has put Edmonton in the spotlight with organizations calling on all levels of government to address the increase in crime that they say has only gotten worse.
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Canada’s recent crime statistics has put Edmonton in the spotlight with organizations calling on all levels of government to address the increase in crime that they say has only gotten worse.
Alex Hryciw, chairwoman of the Downtown Recovery Coalition, an organization dedicated to growing and promoting a safe Downtown, said she has seen violent crime rise over the past 18 months while trying to raise the alarm prior to the statistics coming out.
“We’re really disappointed in the lack of urgency from all orders of government and addressing this really serious issue,” said Hryciw.
“It’s getting more dangerous across all cities in North America and their downtown cores and everyone is really trying to figure out what recovery looks like.”
Hryciw echoed Edmonton’s police Chief Dale McFee who said last week at a news conference that what they are seeing on the streets of Edmonton are violent offenders released on bail who have nowhere to go. Often times these are repeat offenders. She said there’s never been a more urgent situation and the federal government must be pushed to table Bill C-48 a proposal to change Canada’s bail system.
The bill would address serious repeat violent offending with firearms, knives, bear spray and other weapons. The bill would also propose changes at the bail stage to address risks posed by intimate partner violence
“I’m at the point of saying this is a public safety crisis. What’s unfolding on our streets is unprecedented,” said Hryciw.
According to Statistics Canada data released in late July, Edmonton’s total crime rate increased by eight per cent between 2021 and 2022, which amounts to 653 additional crimes in one year. The city’s total crime severity increased by five per cent over the same period.
Separate from the Statistics Canada data, Edmonton police said the city has experienced a 12 per cent increase in violent crime severity in the first six months of 2023.
Hryciw said there has been a lot of “finger-pointing” among politicians at the municipal, provincial and federal level and with it a lack of action. Downtown businesses and visitors are frustrated with the state of the city, said Hyrciw.
“(We’re) hoping that with the release of these stats, we are coming to terms with how serious the situation is and how fast we need to move to act on it for the safety of all citizens at large,” said Hryciw.
The volunteer-led coalition has a positive relationship with the municipality and Edmonton Police Service when it comes to discussing changes within policing to prioritize central businesses and safety during events. She noted that officers are currently burned out and as the upward trend in violent crime continues, she said other services need to step in and work in tandem to help offload the burden on police who are not always equipped to handle certain cases.
Need for safe consumption sites
The new crime statistics have prompted experts and city officials to weigh in on the need for more safe consumption sites and social services as gang involvement in fentanyl activity has gone up by 50 per cent, a direct correlation to the increase in overdoses, McFee said.
Coun. Michael Janz said right now the city is bearing the consequences of poverty and failures across the justice and health care system. He said the provincial closure of safe consumption sites and lack of recovery beds only adds to the issue.
Hunter Baril, press secretary to the minister of mental health and addiction, said in a statement to Postmedia that they have made it “abundantly clear” the provincial government will invest in safe consumption sites and support for recovery. He said provincial funding for harm reduction services has increased by 30 per cent since 2019.
“Since 2019, we have added and funded more than 10,000 addiction treatment beds that are making a real difference for those seeking to overcome the deadly disease of addiction. We will continue to show true compassion by offering a way out of this illness, unlike what we see in other jurisdictions,” said Baril.
Downtown Business Association launches night patrol
The Edmonton Downtown Business Association launched its Edmonton Downtown night patrol last Thursday, a new initiative that aims to support public safety efforts through data collection and improve nighttime safety.
Two night patrol vehicles which will include a security professional from Backwoods Security and a peer support worker from Hiregood will be conducting patrols in downtown streets, alleyways and public areas. The patrol will operate seven days a week from 12:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
The association said pairing a security professional with a peer-support worker is designed to “protect property and improve public safety, while also addressing the multiple complex underlying social issues.”
Puneeta McBryan, executive director of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, said in a news release the launch of the service is an aim at reducing property damage and other crime in the city.
“As a city, we cannot afford to have small business owners, workers, visitors, and residents feeling unsafe and facing the costly impacts of vandalism and other crime and disorder,” said McBryan.
The first-year pilot phase of the initiative is being funded by the City of Edmonton under the Downtown Vibrancy Fund.
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