UCP Leader Danielle Smith has announced a public safety plan as part of the party's re-election campaign. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

UCP announces Safe Streets Action Plan

May 9, 2023 | 2:43 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The United Conservative Party (UCP) has committed to a new public safety initiative if re-elected.

Leader Danielle Smith said the Safe Streets Action Plan is a comprehensive set of measures that will restore safety to Alberta’s cities, communities, and public transit.

“Every day, Albertans wake up to news that someone in their community has been attacked…or even worse,” said Smith. “Enough is enough. We have to take action to ensure Albertans feel safe again. We will address the Liberal/NDP catch-and-release bail system and gang violence, crack down on the fentanyl and gun trade, and keep violent offenders and sexual offenders off our streets. Anything less is unacceptable.”

UCP candidate for Calgary-West Mike Ellis adds that the provincial government needs to boost funding to robust and diverse police services, not defund them.

“While Rachel Notley’s NDP refuses to back down from their ‘defund the police’ rhetoric, United Conservatives will continue to support Alberta’s men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities,” said Ellis.

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Smith claims the plan would substantially increase the monitoring of dangerous offenders who have been released from custody on bail, keep hard drugs and guns off of the streets, and protect the victims of abuse.

It would include attaching bracelet monitors to dangerous offenders who are out on bail and hiring sheriffs who will monitor them.

Another 100 patrol officers would be deployed in Calgary and Edmonton, targeting drug trafficking, gangs, and internet child exploitation.

The UCP said it would aim to better educate the public about Clare’s Law, which allows Albertans to learn about their partner’s possible history of violence.

Commitments of an additional $10 million over four years have been made to both women’s shelters and sexual assault counselling.

Irfan Sabir, Alberta NDP Justice Critic and candidate for Calgary-Bhullar-McCall, made the following statement in response:

“Danielle Smith and the UCP have failed on public safety for four years, and Albertans can see that failure on the streets of our downtown cores, and in the gun violence that many communities are enduring.

“UCP cuts to affordable housing, emergency shelters and rental support have left more Albertans on the streets in desperation than ever before.

“The UCP took funding for police away from municipalities in 2019, withheld resources from victims of crime, and refused to fully fund women’s shelters. Albertans should have zero confidence in Daniell Smith’s last-minute pre-election reversals. Today’s very thin announcement will not paper over four years of failure on public safety by the UCP.

“An Alberta NDP government will put 150 new police officers on the streets, teamed up with community support workers. We will also re-invest in affordable housing so that Albertans sleeping on the streets and transit stations have somewhere else to go.”

The Alberta provincial election is set for May 29, 2023.

READ MORE: Alberta Votes 2023

(With files from rdnewsNOW)