Alberta’s rural municipalities are planning to make an official request that provincial and federal governments do more to address the rise in property crime seen in many communities.
Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC) member municipalities, including Mountain View County (MVC), will consider a rural crime-related resolution at the association’s upcoming spring conference.
The proposed resolution, titled "Combatting Rural Crime," came before MVC council for review at the March 14 council meeting.
Put forward by Lacombe County, the resolution makes two officials requests:
- That the government of Canada and the government of Alberta “develop and implement strategies and initiatives to prevent and combat rural crime, and punish those convicted of committing rural crime in a manner that will maximize deterrence.”
- That the government of Canada “continue with its review of the criminal justice system and sentencing reforms in a way that gets repeat offenders off the streets for longer periods of time.”
MVC Division 7 councillor Al Kemmere is the president of the AAMDC.
He called the proposed resolution a worthwhile attempt to address the rise in rural crime seen in many areas, including in Central Alberta.
“Any time we can get a more concerted effort on the whole rural crime discussion the better,” said Kemmere. “It is not a direct solution but it is a good step.”
In the background briefing note accompanying the resolution, the sponsor says the rise in rural crime can be largely attributed to a number of factors.
“The reasons for this increase are suspected to be a downturn in our economy and the increased use of illegal drugs,” the note states.
“The reality is that every rural resident has either had a crime committed against them or their property or can refer to a neighbour that has experienced it. What used to be a rare occurrence is now commonplace in rural areas.”
Rural property owners have little recourse to respond to rural crime, the sponsors say.
“While vulnerable individuals are being targeted by criminals – who has identified flaws both in the criminal justice system and in the capacity of police departments to respond – they are unable to defend themselves without the risk of facing heavier penalties for protecting their homes and families. Law-abiding residents have their hands tied.”
Many residents in rural communities have been attempting to address rural crime issues by increasing their support for Citizens on Patrol and rural crimewatch groups.
“These actions by citizens are not likely to have much of an effect unless the criminal justice system in Canada takes this problem seriously and deals with offenders in a much more serious and meaningful way.
“Conversations with police agencies indicate that repeat offenders are committing much of this crime and they (police) are increasingly becoming more concerned with the ability of the system to keep these offenders incarcerated.”
Meanwhile AAMDC members will also consider a resolution calling on the provincial government to increase Crown prosecutor staffing levels in rural communities.
Put forward by the County of St. Paul, the resolution is also scheduled to come before the association’s upcoming spring convention.
The resolution calls on the province to “increase Crown prosecutor staffing levels as well as relevant administrative staff for rural communities and collaborate with rural communities to ensure that court cases are being sufficiently prosecuted in a timely manner.”
Kemmere called the proposed resolution an important step.
“We keep hearing that we just can’t get those that they do catch through the system,” said Kemmere. “If we (want) to move these people through the system and get them put through into incarceration, if that’s the final resolve, then we need to have the Crown support.”
The background briefing note accompanying the resolution states, in part, that, “More than 100 cases have been stayed in Alberta since December 2016 because of a lack of resources in the provincial prosecution service, according to the Alberta Crown Attorneys' Association.
“Moreover, there has been tremendous anecdotal evidence in rural communities that Crown prosecutors are unable to carry out their duties due to a dearth of resources.
“It is imperative that rural communities are endowed with the resources necessary to address rural crime. Increasing staffing levels in the major cities will not be sufficient to address the challenges presented by rural crime in Alberta.”
If passed the resolutions would be used to lobby the provincial government.
The AAMDC represents 69 rural municipalities in the province.
