Edmonton’s police chief and the UCP ministers there to support him on his plan to clear Edmonton’s parks and avenues of hundreds of tents housing homeless people seemed antagonistic, annoyed and agitated at yesterday’s government news conference.
This is evident if you watch the official government video of the newser and was corroborated by at least one report from the live event.
“I’m almost flabbergasted that we’re having this discussion,” grumped Police Chief Dale McFee at one point.
In addition to Chief McFee, social services minister Jason Nixon and public safety minister Mike Ellis, the press conference was attended by former grand chief of the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations and Conservative MP Willie Littlechild and Cody Thomas, the confederacy’s current grand chief. Justice Minister Mickey Amery was also on the podium in what a appeared to be strictly a walk-on role with no lines.
Perhaps Chief McFee and Messrs. Nixon and Ellis were irritated by the fact Edmonton City Council had gone ahead the day before and voted to declare the housing and homeless crisis that is obvious to everyone who lives here to be an emergency – even if the effect of that vote was more symbolic than practical since the UCP has already declared its intention not to participate in an effort it calls a political stunt.
“When it comes to his bizarre decision to talk about having a state of emergency that will have no effect … that is just a complete political stunt,” Mr. Nixon said last week soon after the mayor raised the idea. “We’re not interested in that.”
To drive home the point, on Tuesday Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver published an official statement on the Government of Alberta website assailing City Council’s plan to vote on the emergency resolution later that day. “It is disappointing that the City of Edmonton would choose to issue a performative declaration suggesting an emergency and implying a lack of response from our government,” he huffed.
“It is important to clarify to Albertans that this motion does not have any legal implications, authority or binding force,” Mr. McIver added in that statement. “The provincial government will continue to work with Grand Chief Cody Thomas, Chief Dale McFee of the Edmonton Police Service, as well as City of Edmonton employees to protect vulnerable Albertans.”
As for Edmonton’s city council? Play ball or get lost, I guess.
Or perhaps the mood of the news conference was because the government understands that even though the legal effort to get an injunction stopping wholesale clearances of homeless campers was tossed out Tuesday by a Court of King’s Bench justice, a significant portion of the public remains suspicious the sweeps violate human rights, as troubling as the unsightly camps may be.
And maybe they also understand that notwithstanding their repeated claims busting up the camps during a record cold spell was done in the interests of the homeless, that many Albertans doubt the sincerity of that message.
Or it could just have reflected the fact Premier Danielle Smith appears still not to be around to skillfully gaslight on their account, as she does so well.
As has been the case since the pandemic began, interrogation by reporters was restricted to one question and one follow-up, limiting the ability of journalists to force officials out of their message box.
Whatever the reason, the news conference had a strangely defensive, at times petulant, tone seldom seen in UCP events, which are most often marked by their cheerful if unjustified confidence.
This was true even though the government had taken action that would have been cast as good news in the normal course of events: The opening of a new “navigation centre” that can direct homeless people forced out of their camps to shelters, which the government insists are safe, to other social services, or (if they have outstanding warrants) back to incarceration.
“This is the first of many steps to re-routing the vulnerable toward long-term care and wraparound solutions,” Chief McFee insisted.
Instead, the edgy tone of the news conference illustrated the depth of the rift between the province and the city not just over how to respond, but about who is responsible for the crisis.
Clearly the UCP is not much interested in accepting any blame for the situation in Edmonton – at least as long as they have Justin Trudeau to kick around and the mayor’s office in Edmonton is occupied by Amarjeet Sohi, a former federal Liberal cabinet minister!
Mr. Nixon made it clear the UCP is pointing fingers elsewhere: “What we’re talking about here is a failure of a system here in the City of Edmonton, to allow encampments to be built at the emergency housing source, which is costing people their lives.” (Emphasis added.)
As if it wasn’t obvious before, Chief McFee made it clear he intends to remove every tent occupied by the homeless in Edmonton. “This means no more excusing, enabling, or tolerating encampments, period,” he averred, as the ministers nodded their heads in agreement.
“No tent is safe,” he said, somewhat ambiguously. “Our goal is to get all of these tents down.”
The chief and the ministers declared repeatedly that no tent or encampment is safe in the temperatures Edmonton has been experiencing (an assertion that is very hard to deny) and that homeless encampments are hotbeds of crime, human trafficking, drug dealing and violence.
Mr. Ellis, a former Calgary police officer in charge of the public safety and emergency response portfolio, termed encampments “gang-run drug camps” and said of the government’s motives, “we are trying to protect them from being preyed upon by organized crime.”
Which raises an interesting question: If the police service has been allowing gang-run drug camps to operate openly in the city, shouldn’t that be cause for a performance review of the chief? Or is all this supposed to have happened in the past few weeks because there are too many squishy liberals at City Hall, and human rights lawyers and activists in Edmonton?
Well, that’s obviously a question that the province isn’t interested in having anyone answer, and, anyway, Chief McFee’s contract, signed before the last municipal election, continues until June 30, 2026.
In the meantime, the police chief’s preferred solution will move ahead, whether everyone on city council likes it or not. It’s almost as if the police are now running the UCP’s homelessness policy for them!
“We will be moving with our partners to close encampments on an accelerated pace,” he asserted defiantly.
And so today, no longer required to give 48 hours’ notice, police moved ahead immediately, tearing down another encampment downtown.
Trust Chief’s contract will NOT be renewed. Hopefully City is already looking at a reason to terminate. Hopeful thinking?
Arrogance and cruelty are the features! No no! Not the bugs!
An appointed police chief is dictating policy to Edmonton’s elected officials? They’d best be advised not to use their cellphones in playground/school zones.
I don’t know municipal politics well enough and I find it troubling the EPS is taking orders from our apathetic provincial government. Is the UCP using the homeless as pawns in a bid to shut down Edmonton city council?
Narrator: Yes. Yes, they are. And building their private army with it.
As I’ve said before in this form, time for Edmonton city council to pass their own ‘sovereignty act’ and dare…DARE Danielle Smith to denounce it in public.
There is so much wrong with this it’s hard to know where to start. This decision and sudden announcement by the UCP must have been made in a hurry. It’s disappointing to know that the only representative from Edmonton was the police chief. I wonder if anyone else from the city was invited. My city councillor responded to my questions with “No city councillor can direct the police and the police are governed by the “Police Act” which is directed by the Minister of Justice (Provincial).”
The new “support centre” is the old detox centre. That centre was closed as a treatment facility, and it’s been empty for a couple of years. People are now sent to Alberta Hospital to detox. When was the building taken over by Hope Mission, and why?
Outreach teams tried to find the support centre today to direct people there. As of today, there is no signage, and no one around. Even if the centre was staffed, the hours are 8:30 to 4:30 (probably weekdays only).
According to today’s announcement, the choices for those removed from an encampment include being arrested on warrants, detox in a holding cell downtown, leaving voluntarily, or being sent to the support centre for referrals to housing and other supports. I suspect that any “housing referrals” will be to the Mustard Seed or the Hope Mission shelters.
I am disappointed that Chief Cody Thomas disapproves of providing housing until substance use disorder issues have been resolved, when research has shown that a “housing first” strategy is effective. Regarding Chief Willie Littlechild’s comment, no one is against safety. We just disagree on what constitutes safety.
Thanks DJC for giving us EPS Chief Dale McFee’s background. Sadly, it explains his perspective somewhat.
From the Edmonton Journal report: “Despite the Edmonton Police Commission’s warning to members of the public against speaking on encampments, Thursday’s meeting was fuelled with outbursts from the public and calls for the police chief to resign.” It appears that in our free and open society the Chief of Police in Edmonton says – not here in my city. Don’t like it tough, suck it up. I guess he missed the classes on how a Democracy is supposed to work; the often stated position that the police force works FOR the people; the class on diplomacy for Senior officiers.
and
“McDougall was one of three appointees added to the police commission by the UCP government in 2023 after it passed the Police Amendment Act in late 2022.”
The police commision stacked with solid, democracy hating UCP/TBA types?
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-police-commission-meeting-fuelled-with-public-outburts-over-handling-of-encampments
But then again, maybe it’s all Trudeau’s fault!
Police are “butt-hurt” over losing their generations of impunity to breaking the law. They are lashing out in a kind of “social roid rage”. McFee’s recent report on the EPS collusion with anti-vaxx terrorists proves that his critics are correct. His only regret to his officers behaving against the interests of Edmonton citizens (which I witnessed first hand) is to whine about being properly citicised. What a thin skin for a police chief. McFee is clearly a failure as a police officer and a leader. A person with integrity would resign for the good of the city.
This issue isn’t just in Edmonton, but it’s in other cities in Alberta. Why is it just Edmonton that is seeing this issue handled like this? It could be because Edmonton shut out the UCP in the last provincial election, and the mayor was a former federal Liberal cabinet minister. No doubt, Take Back Alberta has something to do with this cold hearted move. The UCP are full of it. They claimed there was ample shelter space in Edmonton, when that’s clearly not the case. The math doesn’t add up either. There have been estimates of 3000 homeless people in Edmonton, and 1700 shelter beds are available. So, 1300 can’t get access to a bed in a homeless shelter, as a result. The UCP are solving nothing, with this heartless move. There is meager supports for the downtrodden in Alberta, because the UCP cut back supports to them.
Math is difficult for TBA cult members. If only they could discover another way to learn it effectively.
I am a retired social worker. What struck me was that the initial point of contact for the unhoused is a police officer, per McFee. The officer then makes referrals to other services/resources. This is a set up for failure I believe. I shouldn’t think there is much trust between the unhoused and especially police. These anre the very officers who just assisted in trashing the earthly possessions of these people. If it is known they are searching for perps, then worse yet. This feels like the force the addicted into treatment policy, which was a demonstrated past failed policy here in BC under the second Social Credit regime of Mini-WAC. And a City Police Chief giving a news conference under the hosting of the province, What on earth?? Has McFee forgotten who pays him.
The TBA is directing McFee, along with the Alberta government. Parker denying this proves they are.
If the police dept. creates a situation which results in the death of some one, i.e. freezes to death because their tent and belongings were taken away, do you think some one might sue or insist the police chief be arrested and charged with at least manslaughter. I’d prefer Murder, but I think it would be manslaughter.
There is not enough housing in Edmonton for all those living in tents.
As to the police chief’s claims of the criminal conditions in the camps, well what is he doing about it? So if he is doing nothing perhaps its time to fire him, contract or no contract. Contracts can be broken, no problem. The guy isn’t doing his job.
“drug gang run camps”, oh really. No one has been arrested that I’ve read about. Hate to burst the police chief’s bubble, but the main gang in Edmonton is the H.A. Lesser gangs report to them and acquire their market share from them also. gangs may sell drugs in the camps but run them, not so much. Gangs are just interested in making money, much like a number of politicians and their supporters. Gangs are simply another form of doing business. Their products are drugs, sex trade.
The police chief needs to put up or shut up.
If the police chief doesn’t like the camps in parks, perhaps they can set them up on the lawns of the police chief and the UPC MLAs.
It boggles the mind that the city of Edmonton provides almost a half-billion dollars each year to fund a police service over which it has no influence or control, and that there is zero accountability for the Chief or the Police Commission to Edmonton’s elected government.
Is the EPS the same force with the million dollar shooting range and a bunch of fancy helicopters?
This raises the matter of democratic accountability for police. We hear this mantra that “politicians can’t give orders to police”, which is a rule intended to prevent pols from ordering police harassment of their political opposition and citizen dissenters. But instead we have a complete lack of accountability to democratically elected authority. I think you could certainly set up some form of broad strokes policy-setting process that is accountable to city council, without turning the police into the mayor’s private army. The lack of party politics at the municipal level could help with that.
As for Mr. Ellis and his gang run, drug camps. clearly he has decided to go with a little nose stretching propaganda, when you tell the fabrication enough times it becomes the truth. Mind you, Alberta has a lot of intelligent people that can see through this gang run nonsense, unfortunately these people are vastly outnumbered.
Never ceasing to disappoint, Ricky McIver served up a healthy dollop of hypocrisy by accusing The City of Edmonton of issuing a performative declaration while the UCP’s reaction to the emergency declaration is nothing more than amateur Kabuki Theatre.
If the city’s intention by declaring an emergency was to irritate the provincial government and spur them into action, then it succeeded. However, this action is not what city council wanted. The Province basically did a run around the city and imposed its own harsh solutions.
I suppose, after years of the province mostly ignoring these problems that is something. So the sleeping giant has been awakened, is angry and is now dealing with this, well at least until something else takes its attention away.
For all its flaws, let’s not forget the UCP is somewhat effective at spin and propaganda and enlisting mainstream media in Alberta to support its messaging. It was effective enough to help them win the last provincial election. So to add to the situation, their messaging here was clear, blame city council for all these problems and the state of things.
Of course, that is partly just deflection by the UCP, but if I was on Edmonton City Council, I would be concerned. A municipal election is coming before a provincial one. This council does struggle to be seen as effective on a number of issues and the recent large tax property tax increase is also not popular.
The intention of declaring a housing emergency was to either spur the province into doing what city council wanted, or embarrass them. But sometimes in politics things do not work out as intended and can somehow backfire. I don’t think it was a good day for the UCP, which is very shameless and so can’t really be embarrassed, but it may have been an even worse one for city council who may regret what they have started.
From the actions of EPS it makes me why they are more in league with the provincial government, not the city they serve. Is this the way the UCP is trying to muzzle Edmonton’s city counsel, by inflicting collateral damage on the homeless.
What’s the old saying about when the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail? It looks like the UCP think the only legitimate social tool they have is the police. We know from prohibition that too many right-wing policies are effectively symbiotic with the organized drug trade. So, no safe supply. That would put the criminals out of business and save the lives of people who the Christians in the UCP see as doomed to eternal damnation anyway unless they can be forced into religiously based abstinence programs.
The kindest thing to say of this collection of the single-minded is they need more tools in their tool box. There ends the metaphor.
Can we assume Nanny McFee has secured funding, land and supports for a safer, better way than tent and tarp villages?
https://newdawn.ca/2024/01/12/cbrm-palette-shelter-village/
No? Why not? It’s all about the safety, isn’t it?
And the human debt continues to pile up. I took a warmer route yesterday through Rogers Place on my way to their sop of a public skating rink and was firmly if politely escorted outside by security. Maybe thought I had a threatening tent in my backpack. Mind you, the skates in there would be a better weapon than some they showed in that photo.
It definitely should be noted The injunction was tossed out on the basis that the coalition that brought it did not have standing to bring it, according to Justice Jonathan Martin “The coalition does not in fact bear any of the hallmarks of a party with a real stake or genuine interest in the outcome,” Martin said while reading his decision.
Because their suit wasn’t joined by any of the 60 “community” organizations he suggests have “real stake” in the outcome, he threw out the injunction in totality, despite recognizing it was within the sphere of the courts to make judgment on.
I think this was likely a shock to the community members that have donated funds & organizing & communications to allow the coalition for justice and human rights to file in the first place that they do not have any interest in the outcome, but I will put a pin in that for now.
What I haven’t seen anyone report on is that Justice Jonathan Martin has only been a Justice since he was appointed to kings bench in 2023, previous to that he worked in the PUBLIC PROSECUTION OFFICE, in Edmonton…for TWELVE YEARS
While with the PPSC, he has held several positions including Senior Counsel, Team Leader of the General Litigation team, Team Leader of the Major Case and Organized Crime team, and Deputy Chief Federal Prosecutor of Alberta. In 2022, he was appointed as the Chief Federal Prosecutor of Alberta.
Would be really weird if In any of those roles he had any interaction with Dale McPhee huh.
So getting round to what my point is. CJHR should definitely appeal, 1) Justice Martin said himself it is an issue for the courts. 2) I realize the law is blind and judges are impartial, but cmon. How stupid do you think we are ?
Does anyone know if this was was the same judge that let Mr Wilson(JCCF) off with a ‘tap on the wrist ‘ ,because he said “I’m sorry, I will do better “.,
which imho seems to be his recurring defense line.
(story cbc)
Randi-lee: I believe Mr. Wilson’s case was dealt with the the Law Society of Alberta’s conduct committee, not a judge. DJC
Also I don’t think it’s likely he’s issued many judgments, having been a judge for less than a year to the SEVEN years the CJHR has been doing advocacy.
DJC– well there, I learned something new today , definition of a “bencher”, have never heard the term before. With what is going on in Alberta these days, one never knows.
The standard solutions for all “inconvenient” social problems that are threatening to the powerful and privileged are always readily available, where; the application and direct use of power/force results in : discipline, domination, and subjugation, through the use of “exclusionary measures such as the enactment of laws targeting people who are homeless, as well as specific policing practices intended to restrict the use of public spaces.”
Because, “Once we identify the Other it becomes easier to justify treating them in ways we wouldn’t treat a fellow person. We can abuse, exploit or persecute them without feeling guilty.”
So, “. . .instead of tackling the root causes of homelessness, governments around the world are increasingly targeting people on the streets with criminal laws and regulations.”
Apparently, the rethinking of attitudes towards difference and the disadvantaged in society remains a somewhat distant and improbable ideal.
McFee is an embarrassing failure. A person with integrity would resign for the good of the city, alas, McFee is obviously a UCP chump so he has zero integrity or self awareness.
One has to wonder how long will it take for all these camp to re-establish somewhere else, perhaps a few blocks from where they were swept away.
As usually happens.
As I sit in my cozy rural home, I am having an anguished cry over those homeless people bring routed from what living spaces they have scrounged together. I understand that homelessness and the camps are a complicated issue but this is beyond dehumanizing. A wonderful new center opening up that is only open from 8:30-4:30!!! Where are these people supposed to go overnight? And what’s with the people of Edmonton that they are allowing the UCP to trash their elected mayor and side-line the city council? And for god’s sake, why is this happening in the dead of winter when we had months of reasonably mild temperatures that could have been used to prepare for housing the homeless. I feel angry and helpless.
This morning there was an article regarding a neighbour phoning the SPCA because they thought neighbouring dogs were not looked after appropriately. SPCA went to inspect and seized the dogs. Reason, they were not being fed properly–they were thin, under weight, inadequate shelter–outside under tarps with nothing on the ground with feces all around. The dogs were taken and cleaned–spa day, then examined by Vets., and placed in clean, warm, safe foster homes.
In the meantime people in various places in this country are not afforded this treatment. They are left under their tarps or have them removed, no showers or use of toilets, no adequate food or health care, etc.
Yes, we hear the unhoused don’t want to be housed. Has anyone actually sat down with some unhoused people and asked them, what it would take for them to live in a housing situation which was not a tent? Probably not.
One of the chief causes of homelessness is lack of affordable housing, lack of housing for people with “issues”, SROs are not fit for humans or animals in many cases. Dealing with the unhouses, economically deprived, addicted has been mainly left to social community groups.
Politiicans are not interested in helping the unhouses, addicted, etc. They don’t see it as they have anything to gain by doing so. Why spend tax dollars on them when they don’t pay taxes and others who do pay taxes may go out and vote for the politicians who delivers the goodies.
People don’t want to pay increased taxes to provide housing, healthcare for those without money or housing. They’re fine, so lets move along
Currently many of us are receiving our property tax assessments and councils are announcing how much property taxes are being increased. There are howls all over the province. Firstly, if you’re of a “certain” age you can delay payment until the home is sold or you die. So seniors can stop complaining about those taxes.
If you can’t afford the taxes on your home, perhaps it is time to downsize or move. When people can’t afford rent, they are evicted–its lawful. So why should home owners be treated better than renters. If some one can’t make their mortgage payments the bank will in due course seize your home and evict you. No one seems all that bent about that, but if the government wants their money, there is a hew and cry
Its about time we put some real money into helping those who are unhoused, addicted, etc. As a min. we ought to treat the humans as well as the dogs the SPCA seized, i.e. showers so they can clean up and hair cuts; clean clothes and bedding, a safe dry space to spend their days with meals and facilities, and a safe and clean place to sleep at night.
HEARTLESS. How does Alberta look to the rest of Canada actually the world. To turn people out in January in alberta of all times without pre planning of any kind. As a float RN on psychiatry here in Edmonton on days past. I have seen psychiatrists admitting their patients who have become homeless. Then they are back in the system where the social workers on the unit try to get them set up with the social.assistance needed of course this has to be when they Are deemed by psychiatrist to be discharged These patients are re traumatized by the actions of say in this case the police and need to be reassessed for treatment like reviewing there current medication which most likely would be changed either by drug and or dosage. This all takes time and nurse power plus social workers and other therapies How soon is the patient going to be discharged They have to have somewhere to go. So how much does this one mentally ill homeless person cost UCP These are called by some Revolving patients. Is it a crime to be mentally ill in alberta. Say you have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia or have severe depression It is not the persons fault that they are mentally ill EVEN if you take your medication you can end up back on the psych unit especially if.you have been re traumatized this is so important to believe So where have the people gone maybe a downtown hospital waiting room Some will end up there with frostbite of the feet. ears.fingers . and then may be transferred up to a bed on a medical unit and if necessary surgery say amputation of fingers or toes. So how much does this cost Maybe the hospital should send send the bill for all this additional care by nurses drs during virus season to the police department signed old disabled RN ps excuse poor computer skills
For single-handedly showing Edmonton as a cross between an episode of the “Simpsons” and “Southpark” plus banal cruelty? I have an award for the first person in the new year to bear a comical stereotype into a disgusting construct! So for “Big Chief too many Doughnuts” McFee? It’s this! https://youtu.be/kDl5GfSRDaM
Excuse me? A UCP minister had the gall to say this about another level of government:
““When it comes to his bizarre decision to talk about having a state of emergency that will have no effect … that is just a complete political stunt,”
This from a government that passed sham legislation preventing the enforcement of laws that are the responsibility of another other level of government…legislation that everyone and their auntie knows is nothing more than a cheap political stunt?! WTF? I think we just got a new definition of ‘chutzpah’.
Serious question: is the provincial government trying to direct a local policy force? Can they do that?
Conservatives claim to believe that the level of government closes to the people should be the highest authority — which would suggest more authority to municipalities. But in reality, when we speak of municipalities being “children of the province”, they’re all about ‘parental rights’.
Our biggest cities have higher populations than our smallest provinces and territories, but have far less authority — and taxing power — than the higher orders of government. Progressive governments tend to recognize this and try to cede more authority to cities, while conservative governments pull it back.
Welcome to Fascist Alberta! Police in Edmonton govern themselves. We now have effectively transformed a major city into a police state. The mayor and city council have lost control over the police. WTF is happening? This is not democracy. Where is the outrage? Where is the media?
I hate to say it, but Edm City Council has let this go too far, for too long, and they are paying a hefty political price for it. Using the public transit infrastructure as makeshift housing for the homeless and those suffering addiction was, at best, a hare-brained scheme. Shove something underground and maybe no one will notice it anymore. Well, once the U of A became something of a homeless camp, everyone saw the problem close up. I have been told by a councillor or two that it was never the City’s intention to use ETS infrastructure for this purpose. My reply to that claim was always, “And here we are…”
Edm council did nothing and made an opening for the UPC to act, at least, in the interests of those afflicted. Homeless encampments because a ready solution with nothing was done, but the Council no options. One wonders about the relationship between Council and the EPS. If the EPS is will so willing to run to the UPC and be their muscle, things must be bad indeed.
At the very least, First Nations leadership is represented and active in this initiative. Is this Jason Nixon’s pathway to the Premier’s Office once everyone has had enough of Queen Danielle? Stay tuned, no one should go on vacation, and mo’ popcorn.
I love how stupid Albertans are every time someone tries to do something good for the people including the homeless ones they become the bad guys. Maybe the people who attack the police for daring to clean up these camps would like to set them up in their backyard and have to deal with the needles, weapons and excrement like the police are facing.
Please, the police stand around and look tough and maybe drag away some folks who run their mouths too much for their taste, they’re not picking up needles, they’re not facing weapons, they are the weapon of the state against the most vulnerable population in the city.
If you want to laud someone’s efforts maybe let’s talk about the army of under resourced, under paid, (often volunteers) outreach workers who are actually working with these community members, saving their lives when there are drug poisonings, organizing drives of food, shelters (as the city is very fond of slashing perfectly good tents) and clothing, for again the MOST VULNERABLE people in our society, who for those in the back, including yourself as I guess you’ve missed that I’ve pointed this out many times: do not commit crimes or use substances at a rate that is higher than folks who live indoors.
I have seen this myself, in person, many times, the police will ask houseless persons (or sometimes people they just think are houseless but live indoors) if they want referrals to social services, if they refuse they are told they have to move, they don’t care where, but they can’t stay where they are.
I guess if we are just kidnapping folks to be taken to a nebulous processing centre they won’t be doing the last part anymore.
Finally, and really, the main complaints about why these folks do not want to go into shelters
1. They’re dangerous (why isn’t the EPS sweeping shelters for the dangerous criminal element that basically all community members say is there)
2. Unwanted and mandatory religious “gospel” that is not only culturally insensitive, but arrogant, and unhelpful.
3. No cohabitation, see number 2.
4. No animals, so no companionship of any kind.
Why do you and I, living indoors have the freedom to associate with whom we please, form partnerships with who we please, be free from religious antagonism, and enjoy the company of animals, by virtue of owing a bank or landlord a massive chunk of our income.
If these are the main complaints why are they so difficult to solve?
Finally, why have we handed the care and outreach of again, our most vulnerable citizens ; to religious terrorists who see piety as the solution to all personal failings ?
You call other folks stupid an awful lot, I’m beginning to think it’s mean spirited intentionally, and not a small amount of projection either.
What people are forgetting most of these people who are refusing help do not want to live inside so what do you do with them? I know my son’s ex wife had that problem with an uncle of hers. He refused any help from the family and they finally lost track of him and he was found dead in a back alley in Red Deer.
Maybe we should invest some time and resources into investigating their objections and seeing if we can put our heads together and come up with a solution that serves both these folks and our broader society.
What came to my mind is what are the two indigenous chiefs doing there supporting the UCP on this? I can see Chief Willie Littlechild succumbing to pressure from his boss Danielle Smith but what’s with the current Treaty 6 grand chief standing up with the UCP? So two out of the three people mayor Sohi wants to invite (Nixon & Thomas) to what would basically be a working group on this serious problem appear onstage with the other white chief who is implementing it. From afar this looks like political grand-standing from all sides. It looks to me like Edmonton city council “is not much interested in accepting any blame for the situation in Edmonton” either.
Now the devil is certainly in the details but the new navigation and support centre doesn’t seem to me to be a bad thing, actually it could be a good thing and may even help the homeless a little. I got thinking about the timeline – Jan 12 Sohi announces intention get the four govts together to work on this, Jan 16th Edm city council declares it an emergency, Jan 17th the UCP come up with this announcement about a “navigation centre.” Is the UCP reacting to the public concerns and in a matter of days or hours thrown together something which looks like a plan? So I sat through the presser referred to above – Christ it was a slog. Well through all the bafflegab, blaming the feds & city council, emphasizing the crime, and yes being defensive, it’s apparent that all this process including chief McFee’s camp-busting has been in the works for some time and everyone must have known it was coming. My conclusion – everyone here is playing politics with the problem, and I am going to include our blog host and some of the commentators here in that.
In spite of some differences of opinion about homes for people first or supports first or addiction treatment vs freedom to use, as Cody Thomas said at least something’s being done. To accept the situation as is is not good enough. I see the immediate problem to be the responsibility of the prov govt and with the UCP, DS and TBA running that show I feel for Alberta but I would ask what has the municipal govt done? I’m not being an asshole or whatever I just don’t know by only seeing this from what’s reported and commented. Mayor Sohi’s emergency resolution took two days to pass because not everyone was in favour of it (9 to 4) – the deputy mayor didn’t support it.
Unaffordable housing is one of the biggest issues and that’s where the feds need to step up but this is specifically about emergency measures. I had occasion to walk through my downtown area last week and this problem is worsening. Every doorway and alley is stocked with campers and their stuff in addition now to the tents on the open areas. At least the plethora of closed businesses and for lease buildings has provided more sheltered doorways for them…
A man in uniform directing his subordinates to trash homes and possessions without authority from mayor and council. Maybe we’ll witness one or both of the EPS armored vehicles on show at future public displays of muscle. Facism is characterized by its insidious onset and political support.