(CALGARY, AB) April 5, 2023: NDP Leader Rachel Notley and her candidates appear to be out of touch with the struggles and safety concerns of everyday Albertans.
In Calgary alone, of the 45 persons charged with homicides in 2021, 2022, and 2023 to date, at least 23 were on release at the time of the offences, with 7 of them bound by firearms prohibitions at the time. In Edmonton, 26 homicides have been committed by those on release.
It is clear that Albertans are asking for an end to public disorder so they can feel safe in their communities, and that’s why the United Conservatives are stepping up to address crime. Why is Rachel Notley and the NDP staying so silent?
“Albertans deserve an explanation for comments made by Rachel Notley’s candidates and sitting MLAs,” United Conservative Party Calgary-Shaw candidate Rebecca Schulz said today.
- In a Twitter post, Edmonton-Ellerslie candidate Rod Loyola said, “an EPS [Edmonton Police Service] badge gives you the right to beat up citizens and not have to face criminal charges.”
- In another Twitter post, Calgary-Bow candidate Druh Farrell said, “I can’t help wondering about domestic abuse within law enforcement families. There’s some sick rage there. I bet it goes home with them and the outcome goes largely unreported.”
- In a questionnaire, Edmonton-South candidate Rhiannon Hoyle advocated to freeze the City of Edmonton’s police budget.
- In an Instagram post, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood candidate Janis Irwin shared the #DefundthePolice hashtag.
- In a speech in the Legislature, Edmonton-Whitemud candidate Rakhi Pancholi said she’s “all for spending less money on our criminal justice system.”
- On Lethbridge City Council, Lethbridge-East candidate Rob Miyashiro supported a motion to cut police funding.
“At a time when Albertans are looking for real solutions on crime and disorder, these comments by NDP candidates stir up anger and resentment against men and women in uniform, who put their life on the line every day to keep us safe. They are divisive and dangerous, and Rachel Notley’s silence suggests she agrees and embraces these views. Albertans deserve a government that supports law and order, and safe communities, and that’s why the United Conservatives are taking bold action to support our officers and Albertans.”
United Conservatives are working with law enforcement to reform policing and tackle crime and disorder. This includes funding 100 more police positions, deploying provincial sheriffs to Calgary and Edmonton, mandating body-worn cameras, banning carding, making the public complaints process independent, establishing diversity and community safety plans, and encouraging greater collaboration between police and civilian partners.
We also need to address the root causes of these issues.
When it comes to mental health and addictions challenges, the NDP had a single focus on injection sites, which perpetuated the cycle of addiction and devastated businesses and communities. Instead, our plan – while including harm reduction – has meant record investments of $275 million annually in mental health and addictions. We’ve added more than 10,000 new annual publicly funded spaces, including detox, treatment and recovery spaces, but also increased mental health supports and program, virtual opioid dependency treatment and eliminated NDP user fees for treatment.
“The United Conservatives continue to show compassion for those struggling with mental health and addictions, but families and businesses are sick and tired of the chaos that has overtaken their streets, parks, and transit systems. They want their communities back,” Schulz said. “ It’s frightening to think about what Rachel Notley and these NDP candidates would do in government, or what they wouldn’t do, if given the chance.”
