Alberta planning to address rise of violence: Minister Ellis

It seems like help is on the way, after incidents at malls and violent attacks at an LRT station just outside of Commonwealth Stadium. Wednesday, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, answered questions about the rise of violence in both Edmonton and Calgary.

The minister made a statement back in April of this year that discussions were being made to help with violence on public transit. According to Ellis, an announcement will be made in the coming days about what the provincial government is doing to help with these issues.

“There’s going to be an announcement coming,” said Ellis. “Our commitment is to make sure we have boots on the ground, make sure we have officer presence because that matters. Certainly the reports, specifically in regards to Edmonton, are that the sheriffs have been very very helpful.”

Ellis also says organized crime in Alberta is at a high right now and that is a huge concern in the province. The minister pointed to soft punishments being handed down from a federal level, which is inviting these organizations into Canada.

“The soft on crime policies that have been implemented by this federal government has allowed organized crime to thrive with little to no consequences,” explained Ellis.

“One of the things that we are looking at is trying to constrict the money that the organized crime is getting right now. If the justice system is not keeping these individuals in jail, what is known as pre-trial custody for example, then we have to make it less profitable for them to do business.”