Alberta Minister of Justice, Mickey Amery, announced a provincial strategy to clean up the federal government’s weak bail legislation that’s continuously resulting in repeat violent offenders.
Amery said Edmonton has had so much criminal activity of late that it’s caused enormous damage to the city’s economy, reputation, and morale.
He made the announcement alongside concerned business leaders, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, and police chief Dale McFee.
“The federal justice system is not holding individuals accountable,” Amery said.
He said the United Conservative Party (UCP) will create targeted units within the province’s crown prosecution service, which “will go after crime in Alberta’s largest cities, especially in matters involving violence and targeting repeat offenders.”
Amery further said the UCP would change the bail practice protocol as a document for crown prosecutors to use at bail hearings when handing out sentences to repeat violent offenders.
“To keep them off the streets while their cases are being tried,” Amery said.
Details have recently emerged that indicate Canada’s catch-and-release bail system is permitting criminals to roam freely even after they’ve skipped out on bail for a previous crime.
Amery acknowledged that bail reform is ultimately a matter of federal policies but said, “we will do what we can as a province to support our prosecutors.”
Toronto Crime
Last week, the Toronto Police Association (TPA) informed the public that a man arrested for first-degree murder is on the loose after he simply removed his ankle monitoring bracelet.
The TPA’s announcement included a plea to the Trudeau Liberals to enact stricter bail laws.
“Violent offenders should be held in custody. Releasing them into our communities is an insult to victims & to our members who keep our neighbourhoods safe. The TPA continues to advocate for tougher bail laws across Canada,” the TPA stated on X.
Mexican Cartel
Chief McFee was asked if the Mexican Cartels were “running the streets in Edmonton,” to which he said he didn’t want people to blame Mexicans for the state of crime in Edmonton.
“But are there connections to some of this? Yeah, there has been for years, and that’s not unlike many other cities,” he added.
