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We all deserve to be safe.¶
Community Safety and Well-being Actions¶
City Council works with community partners, city administration and other orders of government to achieve our community safety goals. We are working to address the safety concerns and complex social issues impacting our core neighbourhoods and transit system. It is important to respond to both the immediate effects and the underlying root causes of these issues.
That is why Edmonton City Council has made investments in both increased enforcement and long-term prevention. While the Edmonton Police Service is receiving historically high levels of funding from the City, so is REACH Edmonton 24/7 Crisis Diversion.
Mayor Sohi has made a helpful resource to show the various ways the City is working to make Edmonton safer and I ask you to take a look: mayorsohi.ca/safety
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Former EPS Chief Dale McFee said, “we can’t police our way out of crime” and that the vast majority of calls are driven by poverty, addiction, and trauma. Edmonton spends the 2nd highest per person on policing in Canada. Tackling the root causes of crime, supporting crisis diversion and social supports can ensure police officers are available for priority calls.
The Government of Alberta has not done their job and have worsened underlying problems, especially since the 2019 election. They have underfunded housing, mental health, and addictions. They have allowed other communities, such as Leduc, to close their housing supports and send those with complex needs into Edmonton. They have underfunded our justice system so we face greater court backlogs.
Edmonton, like other municipalities across Alberta and Canada, is incredibly limited in our tools to improve public safety. Our most powerful role can be as advocates for our communities to those in charge of the justice system: the provincial and federal governments.
TAKE ACTION: ADVOCATE FOR OUR CITY¶
Edmonton Centre-MLA David Shepherd created a very useful toolkit of seven actions that must be taken by the Government of Alberta to make a tangible difference in our communities today:¶
- Act now to ensure there is enough emergency shelter capacity to support everyone in need this winter.
- Ensure all of these spaces are open 24/7 and funded to provide appropriate supports and programming.
- Provide clear public reporting on shelter spaces and usage.
- Clarify the mechanisms to hold shelter operators accountable in meeting the SAEs.
- Make immediate and urgent investments to expand the number of bridge housing spaces in Edmonton.
- Follow through on previous commitment to provide better connection to services where people are.
- Urgently accelerate funding for and construction of treatment and recovery facilities for Edmonton.
You can read the 2024 Downtown Advocacy Toolkit here.
Frequently Asked Questions¶
What funding has City Council provided to the Police?¶
No other jurisdiction in Alberta spends more on policing than Edmonton.
Former EPS Chief Dale McFee said, “we can’t police our way out of crime” and that the vast majority of calls are driven by poverty, addiction, and trauma. Edmonton spends the 2nd highest per person on policing in Canada. Tackling the root causes of crime, supporting crisis diversion and social supports can ensure police officers are available for priority calls.
How are police funding increases being spent?¶
Policing is the largest item in the city budget and on your property tax bill. No one spends more on policing than Edmonton. But where is the new funding going?
Police funding has increased year over year. In 2019, the police funding from the City of Edmonton was $378 million. By 2026 it will grow to $475 million.
The Edmonton Police Service's budget is expected to grow by 12.4% between 2023 and 2026. For context, the Edmonton Public Library's budget is supposed to increase by 4% between 2023 and 2026.
How are the Edmonton Police leadership spending the money?
I moved the following motion which was passed by City Council:
That the Edmonton Police Commission obtain information from the Edmonton Police Service on the impacts of the Edmonton Police Service Funding Formula, specifically addressing what services and projects the enhanced funding under this formula has enabled or will allow in the future and provide a report to Council.
Motion Passed: Sohi, Wright, Knack, Stevenson, Salvador, Janz, Tang
Opposed: Cartmell, Hamilton, Rice, Principe
I was disappointed that some of my colleagues would even speak and vote against receiving more information about how our tax dollars are being spent.
Even those who support the expenditures should want to know -- and proudly celebrate -- how the funding is being spent, no? We could all benefit from more transparency, accountability, and oversight. More information allows us to compare return on investment and ensure every single tax dollar is maximizing public benefit.
There are some negative political actors in the community who are attempting to perpetuate a narrative that the police are underfunded. When you look at an annual budget growth of almost $100 million dollars, this is clearly incorrect.
Edmonton has a funding formula which guarantees an increase every year. The police are the largest component of the city budget and the largest part of your city property taxes. Taxpayers deserve to know how funding is being spent. We all deserve to feel and be safe in our community and deserve transparent information about what is being done to enhance safety.
I wrote about the problems of accountability in police funding previously at: more money more police not necessarily
Last year the EPS leadership were criticized for spending more on public relations instead of front-line policing: Edmonton Police communications spending
The Edmonton Police Commission has been critical of providing an audit plan to city council and their auditor jointly reports to both the Chief of Police and the Police Commission, unlike the independent auditor at City Hall who only reports to City Council, not the City manager: Edmonton Police Commission audit
Policing expert Professor Temitope Oriola recently wrote an article about the need to deploy police resources more effectively: Let's deploy EPS resources more effectively
What about Crisis Diversion?¶
What you may not know, is that Edmonton City Council has also provided record investment into 24/7 crisis diversion through REACH, bringing their funding up to $5.3 Million in 2024. The stats are impressive.
When it comes to public health and safety, we need the right tool, at the right time, in the right place at the right cost. Sometimes that is a fire engine, other times it is a squad car– but sometimes it's just a helping hand and a connection to health or services.
Many of you likely know that since the 2021 election City Council has provided almost 20% more funding to the Edmonton Police Service. I've shared some of my thoughts about ensuring return on investment for this expenditure previously: more money more police not necessarily
What you may not know, is that Edmonton City Council has also provided record investment into 24/7 crisis diversion through REACH, bringing their funding up to $5.3 Million in 2024. REACH was operating with a budget of under $2 million in 2021.
The 24/7 Crisis Diversion program helps people experiencing nonemergency crises get to a safe place, freeing up police and emergency medical services to respond to more critical events. 24/7 Crisis Diversion program contributes to the decriminalization of poverty, mental health and addiction by supporting people to connect with appropriate resources versus engagement with police, justice and corrections.
Between January 1st - June 14th, 2024, the REACH team had 30,888 dispatches, a 30% increase from the same period in 2023. It is critical that we continue to invest in crisis diversion programs as the importance of them only continues to grow.
If you see someone who may be in distress but not in an emergency state, call 211 and you can request assistance from a Crisis Diversion team.
There are currently 10 vehicles on the road within a 24-hour period 365 days per year. Boyle Street Community Services and Hope Mission also each operate five crisis diversion vehicles, each vehicle staffed by a team of two, from the respective organizations.
Mobile Teams receive calls from 211 operators via a dispatch system and can typically respond to high-priority calls within 30-45 minutes.
Emergency Services and Peace Officers can also make direct referrals to Crisis Diversion teams.
In addition to this work helping so many folks, it is an alternative solution to augment public safety. It is also more financially sustainable than offering only a police response.
I'm also very interested in the Downtown Business Association "Night Patrol" program that, for the same cost as one police patrol car with two officers, dispatches two patrol cars with a peer and a security guard to help proactively respond to low intensity issues. As always they can call EPS if things merit it.
As we continue to invest in a program like REACH, it is important to let people know this solution exists and to encourage everyone to use it when needed. We all grew up knowing what number to call 911 for ambulance, fire or police, and now we have a new support number to remember as well.
Thank you to all the hardworking members of the crisis diversion teams – heroes in our community.
How are we taking action on Problem Properties?¶
Update January 24th 2025: The program is so successful we are looking at expanding it!
In 2022, my colleague, Councillor Ashley Salvador (Ward Metis), moved a motion to have the city develop a plan to tackle the issue of problem properties. The motion passed and we are already seeing results such as a reduction in structure fires.
What is a "Problem Property"?¶
- Have a history of repeated or excessive neglect, disrepair and/or safety concerns
- Are a significant public health risk and/or a higher risk for fires
- Are abandoned and unsecured and may be accessible to the public
- Are known for repeated, ongoing criminal activity (for example, drug trafficking or gang-related crime)
- Have a history of deliberate violations and/or noncompliance by property owners or tenants
- Require a coordinated response from several agencies (for example, various City departments, Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Sheriffs)
What is the city doing to address Problem Properties?¶
- A new tax subclass is applied to these properties so they pay higher taxes until the property issues are solved.
- At the cost of the owner, enhanced enforcement of safety issues (fire risks, unsecured areas of derelict properties, failure to meet minimum housing standards, illegal activity, health and safety issues, development permit violations, and other infractions). This could mean fines, clean up/board up directives or more, up to and including demolition.
- Relationship building with tenants and owners to ensure they are aware of the issues and consequences of not addressing them.
I want to be clear, these properties are not merely unsightly, poorly kept, or party houses. These are abandoned, vacant, or derelict homes that pose an enormous safety risk to the community, especially due to fire. All properties must maintain minimum property standards as set out in the Community Standards bylaw and Municipal Government Act.
The demolition of a privately owned property is a significant undertaking and legal process that is not taken lightly by the City. Only if the property is assessed as unsafe structurally and the legislative authority to proceed is present, would the demolition process be initiated.
What can you do if you have a Problem Property in your neighbourhood?¶
Report problem properties if you are aware of them, and talk to your neighbours and friends to make sure they know about this program and that they can report too.
- Call 311 or report using the 311 app.
- Confidentially report a problem property using this form: https://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/report-a-problem-property
- Report an unsecured, vacant building by emailing: [email protected]
I need your help.¶
Because City Bylaw operate on a complaints-based system, and officers rarely have time for proactive policing, it is critical that you are the eyes and ears of your neighbourhood. If something seems off, say something. If you see a bylaw issue, please use 311 or contact my office and please make sure your complaints are documented. Pictures especially (which you can upload using the 311 app) with specific details are very helpful and help save time.
Read more about the progress: Edmonton's problem property initiative expands derelict building demolitions
Learn more about the criminal justice system in Canada¶
Join us live from the University of Alberta for a critical examination of the criminal justice system with Prof. Benjamin Perrin. Unpacking themes from his bestselling works, we delve into the intricacies and trials facing justice in Canada today. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on 'Indictment: Criminal Justice on Trial'.
What are the science and secrets of ending violent crime?¶
Video: Invitation: Ending Violent Crime (June 1st 2023)
Video: The Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime with Dr. Irvin Waller
Video: Talk World Radio: Irvin Waller on Ending Violent Crime
Read More: What Mayor's must do to stop violent crime
What are the options to report crime?¶
The Edmonton Police Commission encourages you and your neighbors to:
- Report crime using the EPS's non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 or #377 within Edmonton. Always dial 911 for any emergency involving a life-threatening situation or a crime in progress.
- Consider reaching out directly to the Neighborhood Empowerment Team, which the police are a part of, to explore community-focused options for public safety. More information about this team, including contact information, can be found at: https://www.edmonton.ca/residential_neighbourhoods/community_safety/neighbourhood-empowerment-team
- Direct anonymous reporting of issues can also be done to Crimestoppers as follows:
- Call Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477
- Submit your tip safely and securely online.
- Download the P3 Tips smartphone application to submit via app on iPhone and Android applications.
- https://crimestoppers.ab.ca/edmonton/
It is critical to have the issues directly raised to the police service either through reporting or Crimestoppers, otherwise the police service will remain unaware of local problems being experienced by communities.