Tyler Shandro, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Bill 9

Government announces proposed bill to strengthen Albertans’ right to know

Mar 22, 2022 | 3:36 PM

The Alberta government has announced new legislation that aims to make it easier for Albertans to make informed decisions about protecting themselves and their communities.

If passed, Bill 9, the Public’s Right to Know Act, would be the first legislation of its kind in Canada, requiring the provincial government to report crime data annually and make the information available on its website. Government officials say this will bring consistency in timing and a more user-friendly approach to crime statistics for Albertans.

The Public’s Right to Know Act, which would also require the government to table a report in the legislature, is said to fulfil a platform commitment to strengthen transparency in the justice system and responds to calls from Albertans for more information about crime.

“People have a right to know what’s going on in their communities and this legislation would give them easier access to more information about crime statistics in the province,” says Tyler Shandro, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. “Improving access to crime data will also help people make evidence-based decisions for better outcomes and safer communities.”

“Access to reliable data is critical to community safety and well-being,” adds Jan Fox, executive director, REACH Edmonton. ”When we give reliable data to community members, we empower them to better prioritize and direct their efforts in ways that are efficient and maximize resources. Aside from that, data-informed Albertans also empower communities to be part of the decision-making process when it comes to matters that affect their safety and well-being.”

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“We support any attempt to make crime and safety data more readily accessible to the public,” shares Mark Neufeld, chief of police, Calgary Police Service. “Having this information at your fingertips gives people the knowledge and power to make informed decisions about their own safety and well-being.”

“The Edmonton Police Service supports a more thorough approach to reporting on crime data for Alberta’s entire criminal justice system, from police services and corrections to the court system and the many other agencies and services that uphold community safety and well-being,” states Dale McFee, chief of police, Edmonton Police Service. “An increase in visibility and accessibility of data can help to improve public safety, and we look forward to seeing progress province-wide in this area.”

“This legislation will be of assistance to Alberta Citizens on Patrol groups, to help us understand what is going on in our communities,” says Garth Kohlsmith, president, Alberta Citizens on Patrol Association. “This initiative will help us with decisions about our patrols and volunteer efforts. The information received from this legislation will result in an increase in crime prevention.”

Officials say the legislation would enable the province to report on currently available metrics, such as police-reported crime data, and allow for other kinds of crime and justice information to be added in the future. There are said to be provisions enabling the provincial government to obtain and publish additional data through information-sharing agreements with the federal government, other provinces and territories, municipalities and police services, among others.

The provincial government would also have the ability to report the data in a user-friendly way by highlighting metrics that are of the most concern to people, like data about violent and serious crimes, as well as property offences.

If passed, the legislation is intended to come into force this fall, enabling the first reports to be tabled and the data posted publicly online.

“This legislation is incredibly vague and doesn’t even specify which data will be collected or disclosed. Most importantly, it does nothing to help address crime,” said NDP Justice Critic Irfan Sabir.

“It doesn’t restore funding to the Victims of Crime Fund that was raided by the UCP or prioritize the new victim of crime model they’ve been promising for the last two years. It also doesn’t prioritize the hiring of more prosecutors or present a plan to make sure criminal cases are not thrown out due to delays in prosecuting them within the Jordan timeframes,” continued Sabir. “Lastly, it doesn’t respond to what Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and Albertans at large have been telling them: abandon the Alberta Provincial Police force and focus on addressing the root causes of crime. Instead of taking concrete steps to address crime, and focus on Albertans’ priorities, the UCP is more concerned with passing this legislation that the minister admits isn’t needed and pressing ahead with an Alberta police force that the overwhelming majority of Albertans don’t want.”