Province plans to appoint more members to Edmonton police commission, minister says

The Alberta government plans to expand its representation on the Edmonton police commission — but not everyone is warm to the move.

Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis sent a letter Wednesday to Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, informing the mayor that he intends to add more provincial appointees to the commission, to help address "elevated levels" of crime and social disorder in the city's downtown, transit corridors and "other high-risk" areas.

"We're exploring all options to ensure that we're going to keep Albertans safe," Ellis told reporters Wednesday.

The commission oversees the Edmonton Police Service and is responsible for things like helping develop and allocate the annual policing budget. It consists of 12 total appointed members: two city councillors and 10 citizens.

The commission is non-partisan and remains unbiased, despite its members being appointed by the municipal and provincial governments, according to its website. 

At the end of 2022, the Alberta government updated the Police Act, giving itself the power to appoint commissioners. The government has selected three of the 12 current commission members.

In the letter, Ellis stated that he would follow up "in the coming days" about the number of appointments and the length of their terms.

He noted to reporters Wednesday that, under the legislation, the government can appoint "up to 49 per cent" of the commission's members.

City leaders raise concerns

Sohi responded to Ellis, raising "several significant concerns," he said in a statement to CBC News.

Among his worries are how the provincial government will ensure "equity and transparency" in its appointees, if funding will be spread fairly among commissioners, and what strategies are in place to address the "root causes of disorder," namely homelessness, mental health and addictions, Sohi said.

Those questions must be answered to "ensure we are working together effectively for the safety and well-being of all Edmontonians," he said. 

Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz, who is not on the commission, told CBC News he finds the plan "puzzling" and concerning.

"Why do they want to get involved with policing? This is a municipal responsibility," Janz said.

"Not even the police commission was asking for a change in [its] composition," he said.

Janz questions how appointing more members would improve Edmontonians' safety. Expanding the number of provincially appointed positions could also go against the commission's non-partisanship, he said.

"It gives a very top-down — rather than bottom-up — feel," he said.

Commission chair backs what's best for city

John McDougall, chair of the Edmonton police commission, addressed the provincial government's intention after a board meeting Thursday.

"I support whatever is in the best interest of the city, and especially what's in the best interest of ensuring that we have an accountable and transparent police service," McDougall said.

Appointing more members would ensure the city and Edmonton Police Service can access provincial resources, Ellis said.

"Ensuring that they have that quick and easy conduit … is a good thing for the people of Alberta and the citizens of Edmonton," he said. 

For Janz, adding provincial representation feels more like playing politics than focusing on public safety. He said it also doesn't address the root problems that affect public safety on the city's streets.

"What's going to change this is more housing, more social supports, more resources, more criminal justice reform — that's where the province should be focusing," he said.

"Edmontonians want to feel safe. This is not going to help my constituents feel safe," he said. 

The Edmonton Police Service has responded to fewer "occurrences" — which includes criminal and non-criminal reports — so far this year compared to 2023, according to its data portal. Non-criminal occurrences include mental health calls and missing persons, among other things.

Statistics Canada data, which is collected directly from police, shows that the total amount of crime reported to Edmonton police has declined, but the force has seen more violence over the past couple of years.

Crime in Edmonton has been down since the COVID-19 pandemic started, data shows. But in 2023 (the most recent year available), the city's crime rate dropped about 11 per cent, lowering to a level not seen since 2014.

Since 2021, however, the city's crime severity index, which weighs the seriousness of offences, has increased more than six per cent. The violent crime severity index rose about 5.7 per cent in that time, reaching its highest point since 2009, data shows.