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Edmonton Journal
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Ottawa ends funding for asylum seekers' hotel rooms after seven years, $1.2 billion
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Federally funded hotels 'were always a temporary measure to support local shelter systems,' spokesperson says A group of women outside the Radisson hotel at Hwy 401 and Victoria Park Avenue in Toronto on Oct. 2, 2018. The government is ending its program of hotel rooms for asylum seekers this year. Photo by Jack Boland / Postmedia The federal government is on the verge of phasing out a program that sees asylum seekers stay in hotels on Ottawa's dime. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has said that funding will end in September. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors According to IRCC, the government is currently housing close to 500 asylum seekers in five hotels in Ontario and Quebec, far fewer than the 2023 peak at hotels across Canada. It has spent more than $1.2 billion on temporary hotel housing since 2020. 'IRCC-funded hotels were always a temporary measure to support local shelter systems as the use of hotels is not a sustainable, cost-effective solution,' a spokesperson from the department told National Post in an email. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again 'IRCC will continue supporting provinces and municipalities in developing their own long-term housing strategies. This shift will reduce costs to Canadians and improve outcomes for claimants. The hotel plan began in 2018 with a pledge of $50 million to help provinces and municipalities deal with housing for asylum seekers. That included $11 million for the City of Toronto. 'We have a clear plan for managing asylum seeker pressures and continue to act to support our partners,' Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said at the time. 'Our largest cities have shown tremendous leadership in their response to the recent influx of asylum seekers. Toronto and Montreal, as major population centres, face the greatest challenges when it comes to housing asylum claimants, and we will continue to work with them to come up with long-term, workable solutions to those challenges.' Costs have skyrocketed since then. Government figures show that, in 2018-19, funding for the Interim Housing Assistance Program, or IHAP, amounted to $29 million for Ontario and Manitoba. The following year the program expanded to include Quebec and British Columbia, and the price tag was $342 million. Costs fell a little in future years, but in 2024-25, payments pending total $300 million. Asylum claims have also increased over the span of the program. In 2019, government figures show there were 64,000 asylum claims in Canada. That fell during the early years of the pandemic but rose to 92,000 in 2022, 144,000 the following year, and 173,000 last year. The government notes that, at its peak in late 2023, the federal hotel footprint included 46 sites from Vancouver to St. John's at an average cost of $205 per night. While stays were inherently temporary, it notes, there was no enforcement on length of stay. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. IRCC says its new plan involves reception centres that will provide immediate short-term housing and other services to asylum seekers; relocation to other jurisdictions, including other provinces with more affordable housing and jobs; and a plan for housing independence, in which claimants transition into receiving communities and jobs. 'Through early investments in IHAP, the federal government has already supported the opening of a reception centre in Peel and transitional housing options in Ottawa,' the spokesperson told National Post. 'Future IHAP investments will add more housing capacity for asylum claimants.' IHAP is no longer accepting new applicants for its hotel program, and has been winding it down in anticipation of the September end date, the spokesperson said. 'Since January 2024, IRCC has helped over 15,000 claimants transition to independent living, and it will continue to assist those currently on site with securing longer-term housing until September 30, 2025.' The spokesperson added: 'As of July 2025, IRCC has rooms leased in one hotel in Quebec and four hotels in Ontario, with a total of 485 asylum claimants. IRCC remains committed to supporting claimants during this transition, working with service providers to assist with housing, employment, and essential services.' Experts and advocates say that could be difficult in cities where demand is high. 'What they need to do is actually put something in place to make sure refugees don't fall on their face,' said Nadine Miller, executive director of Pilgrim Feast Tabernacles Church, which took in dozens of refugees in Toronto two years ago as shelters overflowed. 'We've been picking up the pieces since 2023.' Her suggestion: 'Get their paperwork processed faster. That's the biggest problem they're having. If you sit in a hotel for two, three, four months or even a year, and you don't have a work permit, what that does for you is you're no further than the day you came in.' — with files from Canadian Press Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Edmonton Journal
12 hours ago
- General
- Edmonton Journal
Ill-equipped and tired: a night with a Ukrainian air defence unit
Roman PILIPEY/AFP Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP A menacing buzz reverberates through the night sky in eastern Ukraine. Explosions ring out, flashes illuminate sunflower fields below and the smell of gunpowder poisons the air. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors 'There! Three kilometres away!' shouted one Ukrainian serviceman in the air defence unit equipped with Soviet-era weapons and tasked with intercepting Russian drones, before they home in on Ukrainian towns and cities. The long-range unmanned aerial vehicles originally designed by Iran but improved and launched by Moscow have been devastating Ukraine since the early chapters of the Kremlin's invasion launched in early 2022. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Moscow has trumpeted its industrial-scale production of the cheap weapons, with state-television broadcasting what it called the world's largest drone factory. The rare footage showed the assembly of hundreds of jet-black triangle-shaped Gerans — geraniums in Russian. On the night in July that AFP embedded with an air defence unit in Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, Russia launched 344 drones, but its largest-ever barrage comprised of more than 700. 'It's rotten tonight, just like the day before,' said one serviceman in the air defence unit, leaning over a radar. Increasingly sophisticated Gerans are flying at higher altitudes and able to alter course en route, but Vasyl's unit is equipped with old, short-range weapons. 'They fly chaotically and unpredictably. It has become harder to destroy them,' the 49-year-old told AFP. 'We're effective, but I can't promise that it will be like this every week,' he adde'Nothing we can do' Oleksandr, a fellow serviceman defending airspace near Pavlograd city, was scrutinising a radar where hundreds of red dots were appearing. 'There's nothing we can do. It's not our area,' he said of the incoming drones. His 20-year-old daughter, who lives in Pavlograd, was not answering her phone, he told AFP while lighting a cigarette. 'But I warned her,' added Oleksandr, who like others in this story identified himself with his first name or army nickname in line with military protocol. An explosion boomed, the horizon glowed crimson and dark smoke appeared in the sky moments later. President Volodymyr Zelensky has secured several Patriot batteries from allies since the invasion began and is appealing for funding for 10 more systems.
Edmonton Journal
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Should Liquid I.V. be on Canadian concertgoers' must-pack list?
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Should you pack some Liquid I.V. for your next summer concert? Photo by Getty Images/Liquid I.V. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. I love small indoor venues with regulated temperatures and assigned seats, but Kesha , Barenaked Ladies , Cyndi Lauper , Our Lady Peace and many other headliners this summer are at the very popular outdoor Budweiser Stage, located in Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Toronto is having a very hot summer, so I appreciate Liquid I.V. 's messaging around proper hydration. The popular electrolyte drink mix ( available on Amazon ) first came to Canada in the summer of 2023 and went after the concertgoer and fitness community across the country. The brand is not slowing down. It continues to partner with Budweiser Stage and other Canadian venues and events to share its messaging around the importance of hydration. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again I see two angles for consuming Liquid I.V. First, it's important to replenish electrolytes in hot and/or sweaty environments, and it's easy to do so with convenient packets of powder. Secondly, it's more fun to drink water when it tastes like a delicious treat. However, know what's in the packets before consuming them. Kesha in Toronto at Budweiser Stage. Photo by Postmedia/Randi Mann Liquid I.V. offers sugar-free and sugar-full variations ( learn more about the sugar options ); however, the former have yet to make it to Canada ( Organika, a Canadian-made electrolytes powder , has a sugar-free option). In terms of use and cost, Liquid I.V. packets are not cheap, but also not small. At over $2 per pack, the cost of the drink mix can add up if used frequently. However, it can also be a more affordable option compared to drinks at a concert venue. Just bring an empty reusable plastic bottle (some venues, including Budweiser Stage , often don't allow metal containers), Liquid I.V. and find a water fountain. Also, it's recommended to mix one pack of Liquid I.V. with two cups of water, but I prefer a more diluted taste and only use half the pack for two cups (the packets are easy to fold to save for later). With a reusable plastic water bottle and a pack of Liquid I.V. in hand, I headed to the Kesha concert. (If you completely want to stay out of the sun, check out VEEPS, a new streaming service in Canada, where you can watch live concerts.) There was a Liquid I.V. pop-up at Budweiser, handing out samples. I've now tried most of the flavours and my favourite is the strawberry . As mentioned, I can appreciate the added benefits of Liquid I.V. compared to straight water, but would save it for super hot days (like the Kesha-concert day) or days when I'm exerting a lot of energy (like going for a long summer run or bike ride). I enjoyed having Liquid I.V. during the Kesha concert, as it was hot, crowded and sweaty, and I needed every excuse to stay hydrated so I could focus on the music. Liquid I.V. stand at Budweiser Stage. Photo by Postmedia/Randi Mann Aside from the convenience of electrolyte packets, I wanted to learn more about Liquid I.V. and what sets it apart from its competitors, so I connected with its brand manager, Courtney Dodds. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Q: Why is Liquid I.V. looking to connect with concert-goers this summer? A: Concerts are about more than just the music – it's about the full experience. From getting ready with friends, to spending the days or nights under hot summer skies, to recovery the next day, they can take a lot out of you. The hot and long days and crowds can often lead to less hydration and electrolyte imbalance as the heat and sweat drains your body of electrolytes like potassium. When you aren't hydrated and your electrolytes drop, your body feels it fast. It's what makes Liquid I.V. such a perfect hack for concert season. Whether you're heading to a major festival or a local outdoor venue, Liquid I.V. is designed to enhance your hydration and help to fuel the whole experience. Q: What's Liquid I.V.'s goal in the Canadian market? A: As wellness continues to be prioritized by Canadians, proper hydration is also becoming even more important. Despite this, in a survey Liquid I.V. conducted last year , we found 63 per cent of respondents reported feeling regularly dehydrated. Even more alarming, younger Canadians ranked highest in feeling dehydrated, with Gen Z (77 per cent) and Millennials (74 per cent) identifying they feel dehydrated weekly. Our goal now is to continue helping Canadians stay hydrated wherever their life takes them, including summer nights spent seeing their favourite artists. Q: When do you suggest consuming a packet of Liquid I.V.? A: While individual needs vary, Liquid I.V. is designed to enhance hydration anywhere you want to support your body, whether you're active, spending time outdoors or just going about your daily routine. The key is to make hydration a habit and be proactive because by the time you notice signs of being less hydrated, you're already behind. Adding Liquid I.V. to your water helps replenish electrolytes, making it easier to stay properly hydrated throughout the day. With 63 per cent of Canadians feeling regularly dehydrated, adding Liquid I.V. into your daily routine can be a simple way to keep your hydration on track, no matter what your day holds. Kesha at Budweiser Stage in Toronto. Photo by Postmedia/Randi Mann Q: How can Liquid I.V. support your summer wellness routine? A: According to the Liquid I.V. survey, most Canadians know how much water they should be drinking, but more than half still fall short of that goal and often feel dehydrated . In the summer, the heat makes us sweat even more, losing essential electrolytes that are crucial in helping our bodies stay hydrated and balanced. There are a few easy tips to help Canadians stay hydrated and support their wellness routines: Be proactive : Proactivity is key for hydration. Thinking about your hydration before, during and after summer plans is the most important thing so that a dip in your hydration doesn't sneak up on you. Supplement your water : We know that Canadians are aware of how much water they should be drinking, but we also know that many Canadians are still falling short of that goal. In addition to gulping down multiple glasses of water, adding an electrolyte drink mix like Liquid I.V. that is scientifically formulated to help restore electrolyte imbalances, is the easiest hack to help you stay hydrated throughout all their summer activities. Take a water bottle : Our survey revealed that just over half of Canadians take a water bottle with them when they leave the house, but that means many people aren't. Just grabbing that water bottle is a simple step to reduce barriers to hydration. Set goals : Setting a daily water intake goal can boost your motivation and make it easier to establish hydration as a habit. Q: Is there a recommendation on how many packets of Liquid I.V. should be consumed? A: We recommend one stick per day mixed with 500mL of water for hydration on the go. Q: What differentiates Liquid I.V. from other electrolyte drinks like Gatorade? A: Liquid I.V. has 3x the electrolytes of the leading sports drink in Canada, but it also contains more than just electrolytes. It has five essential vitamins – B3, B5, B6, B12 and Vitamin C – to keep you feeling your best in the summer heat. On top of that, Liquid I.V. comes in travel-friendly, single-serve packets, making it easy to stay hydrated anywhere. It's these qualities that have made Liquid I.V. Canada's top powdered hydration brand. Q: What's your favourite Liquid I.V. flavour? A: I truly love every flavour, but I'm really a fan of the new Tropical Punch that we just launched. It has tangy notes of tangerine nectar, pineapple and cherry. I'm also loving Firecracker , it's a blend of lemon-lime, cherry and raspberry that delivers a refreshing burst just like summer celebrations. We brought Firecracker back this year because Canadians loved it so much last summer! Q: What's one thing on Liquid I.V.'s horizon that you're looking forward to? A: It's impossible to name one thing! There's so much to be excited about with Liquid I.V. as we'll be keeping Canadians hydrated coast-to-coast this summer! We'll be at Budweiser Stage all season, hitting Badlands in Calgary during Stampede week, and soaking up the vibes at Fvded in the Park in B.C. But what I'm most excited about is getting Liquid I.V. into more hands across the country and showing people just how easy – and game-changing – it is to stay hydrated. We're also listening closely to our community and can't wait to bring even more exciting new flavours to the country. Shopping Essentials, a category written by research-obsessed shopping fanatics, is now on Canoe. Explore in-depth product reviews, expert recommendations and exciting collaborations — plus get behind-the-scenes info on your favourite brands and trending products — learn more here or sign up for our newsletter Looking for savings? Look no further than our coupons page for discounts on your favourite brands. Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Bank of Canada key rate widely expected to hold steady amid trade uncertainty
A runner passes the Bank of Canada in Ottawa. Photo by Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/File OTTAWA — Avery Shenfeld doesn't think the Bank of Canada will cut its benchmark interest rate at its decision on Wednesday, but if it does, he said it will be a 'pleasant surprise.' THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors 'There's always a chance that they'll surprise with the rate cut,' the chief economist of CIBC said. 'But I'm not holding out that much hope.' Most economists are also expecting the Bank of Canada will hold its policy rate steady at 2.75 per cent for a third consecutive decision later this week. As of Friday afternoon, financial markets were placing odds of a quarter-point rate cut on Wednesday at just seven per cent, according to LSEG Data & Analytics. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Stubbornness on the inflation front and surprise strength in the labour market have quashed arguments for further easing since the central bank's June decision. The Canadian economy gained an unexpected 83,000 jobs in June, Statistics Canada reported earlier this month, driving the unemployment rate lower for the first time since January. A few days later, StatCan reported annual inflation ticked up to 1.9 per cent last month while the Bank of Canada's closely watched core inflation figures held stubbornly around three per cent. 'Overall, sticky inflation readings, a weakening but relatively resilient economic backdrop and prospects for larger fiscal spending are reasons why we do not expect the BoC will cut again in this cycle,' RBC economists Claire Fan and Abbey Xu wrote in a note Friday. But Shenfeld's call for a lower policy rate — CIBC expects two more quarter-point drops before the Bank of Canada is done — isn't based on what's happened in the economy, it's about what's on the horizon. Outside of the June jobs jump, the labour market is still broadly weak with the unemployment rate at 6.9 per cent, Shenfeld noted. He also expects Canada's tariff dispute with the United States led to an economic contraction in the second quarter of the year. All told, there's enough 'slack' building in the economy to take steam out of inflation in the months to come, Shenfeld said. The Bank of Canada's own second-quarter business outlook survey released last week suggests that many firms are opting to absorb higher costs from tariffs, rather than pass them on to consumers who may be reining in spending amid economic uncertainty. Shenfeld said that's a sign that tariff impacts 'won't extend into a more persistent inflation issue.'
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton police put focus on repeat offenders
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Edmonton Police Service Interim Chief Warren Driechel provides an overview of the 2024 StatsCan police-reported crime statistics in Edmonton on Monday, July 28, 2025. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia A new report suggests repeat criminal offenders and acute social disorder are contributing to concerning numbers showing more Edmontonians don't feel safe in their city. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors There seems to be two problems between arrest and conviction — arrestees on bail are committing crimes, and other arrestees will never be prosecuted at all. Repeat offenders slipping through the bail system and social disorder, which is often perceived as crime, are wreaking havoc for Edmontonians and the Edmonton Police Service, according to the 2024 year-end crime analysis released on Monday. A new online dashboard allows the public easy access to data and trends surrounding Edmonton's crime rate, top violations as well as comparisons to provincial and national figures. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again While a new online report shows efforts to stem gun violence and other violent crimes seem to be paying off, repeat offenders — failures within the justice bail system once they've been arrested or prosecuted — are now one of the top problems the Edmonton Police Service deals with. The gaps between arrest and prosecution and incarceration and rehabilitation are one of the top issues for EPS officers. 'There's a couple things we talk greatly about, bail reform, ensuring that our kind of most dangerous, violent offenders are held accountable and remanded where needed,' Edmonton Police Service Interim Chief Warren Driechel. Chief information technology officer Ron Anderson suggested a disconnect between EPS arrests and what the Crown can prosecute. 'We do see a large number of our files get withdrawn prior to trial. Some of those are related to quality and completeness of the evidence that we have. Other ones are outside of our hands and decision-making process in the court,' Anderson said. The EPS investigates and decides if a charge can be supported. It's then sent to the Crown, which has its onn assessment process around whether they believe they can reach a conviction. or if it's in the public interest, he said. 'There is prosecutorial discretion, and I think the threshold for conviction is higher than the probability of a charge,' Anderson said. The EPS is looking at the numbers of files that aren't getting to a judge, he said. 'We're tracking some data in terms of files that are going forward to prosecution. In some cases, fairly egregious events are not being prosecuted.' Driechel said more collaboration is required between provincial and federal partners in justice to bridge the gap and figure out where the challenges lie. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Oftentimes they'll withdraw a charge, and we don't actually know why, right? So we can actually say, is there something we can improve upon, or is there something that was a failure on the service, or something that we didn't do right, that caused that to be withdrawn?' Driechel said. That calls for introspection, understanding what prosecutors are dealing with, maybe modifying case work. 'Is it a capacity issue and ensuring that those that are going through those systems are being remanded when need be?' he said. The mathematics may force a change in the outcome of some police calls. 'There may come a time where we say that we will not go to charges on certain events because the reality of them hitting prosecutions will not happen, and then they can therefore focus on the more important things. But at the same time, we can't ignore our responsibility,' Driechel said. Asked about the gaps, Heather Jenkins, press secretary to Justice Minister Mickey Amery, said the provincial government is taking steps to address them. 'For far too long the criminal justice system has been unable to properly protect public safety, due to Ottawa's ineffective bail and parole legislation. This system made it easier for violent criminals to be released into our community, creating a vicious cycle of crime that is completely unacceptable. The federal government has long ignored Alberta's calls for effective bail and parole reforms and demands from all Canadians to take real steps towards public safety,' Jenkins said in an emailed response to Postmedia, citing investments in the courts to protect Albertans from crime and violence in their communities and increase access to the justice system. 'This includes a $16.2 million increase to the ministry of justice budget in Budget 2025. Since June 2023, Alberta's government has made 33 judicial appointments to improve Albertans' access to court,' Jenkins said. A lot of the mischief is on individuals who are in breach of conditions placed on them as a result of a prior conviction or bail. There were 14,500 failure to comply calls in 2024, and a 19 per cent increase in probation breaches. 'It's repeat offenders who are out on the street with conditions that they need to adhere to, and these are the ones that we continually put through the justice system,' Anderson said. 'A large percentage of what we're actually doing in transit is dealing with some of these breaches and bail conditions that aren't being followed.' The new numbers show disorder calls for service increased by 8.6 per cent between 2023 and 2024. In 2024, shoplifting under $5,000 increased by 12 per cent, a number which is likely underreported, and which is both criminal and a precursor to much of the disorder seen on the street, EPS said. Methamphetamine and opioid possession have increased in the same period by 116 per cent and 152 per cent, respectively. For the average Edmontonian walking down the street, a reduction in crime is imperceptible, but social disorder — someone shooting up by a dumpster, or slumped over in a possible overdose, or striding angrily down the street while shouting obscenities — can be disturbing or frightening. Additionally, the very visible problem of social disorder is sometimes conflated with actual crime, contributing to residents' concerns for personal safety, Driechel said. 'We've experienced evidence over the last couple years of this kind of conflated issue of disorder and crime. The minute people see someone on the street using drugs, even though it's technically illegal, it may not necessarily require a justice response, but they immediately equate that to crime in their community,' he said. The encampments that have prompted high-profile removals are another example of a health, wellness, and social issues residents conflate with crime in their communities, Driechel said. A recent EPS report showed more than one-third of Edmontonians — 36 per cent of respondents — say they would feel unsafe walking alone in their community after dark, and almost three-quarters — 72 per cent — say they would feel unsafe taking transit alone after dark. The EPS needs to turn the tide in terms of how Edmontonians perceive crime and disorder, Driechel said. 'We are hyper-focused, on those public spaces — that open-air drug use, the disorder that we see, that perception of safety or community,' Driechel said. A visible police force helps create a level of comfort among residents, he said. There is good news, including a six per cent reduction in Edmonton's total crime rate in 2024 — the number of police-reported crimes per 100,000 people. The numbers show an overall five per cent reduction in Edmonton's total crime severity index, which measures the volume and severity of crime. In 2024, Edmonton's violent crime severity index saw a 10 per cent decrease, compared to 2023 levels. Violent crime is trending to a five-year low, with the violent crime rate decreased by three per cent in 2024 — and lower than both the national and provincial average. 'These figures demonstrate encouraging results that are a direct product of targeted police work that dedicates the right resources to the right places, through initiatives like our Transit Community Safety (TRACS) teams and our guns and gangs strategy,' Driechel said. Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
