Province demanded plan: Edmonton mayor to speak on curbing crime in city’s downtown

The mayor of Edmonton is expected to comment on the city’s plan to address a crime spike in the downtown and Chinatown areas and on public transit.

Last month, Justice Minister Tyler Shandro demanded a report within two weeks on what the city would be doing to arrest the rise in serious crime.

BACKGROUND: Alberta justice minister demands answers from Edmonton on crime

Last week, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi outlined a partial plan and is to update it this afternoon.

It included $1 million to revitalize Chinatown, grants for businesses to upgrade their security and more public washrooms downtown.

He also said the city would be urging the government to stop releasing offenders from provincial corrections facilities onto the street.

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• Mayor Sohi, Justice Minister Shandro to meet Tuesday to discuss downtown crime
• Edmonton council explores solution to increase downtown safety after Shandro invokes Police Act

Shandro says the plan has been submitted to his office.

“My office, as well as officials at Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, will begin reviewing the plan immediately,” he said Thursday in a statement.

“In the meantime, I am encouraged by the constructive discussions I’ve had with Mayor Sohi and the recent steps municipal officials have taken to improve public safety for Edmontonians – including city council’s vote to amend the municipal transit bylaw to ban loitering and drug use on public transit.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2022.