ALBERTA DRAWS STRATEGY TO BUST CRIME BOOM

Calgary Set To Break Annual Homicide Record; Opposition Doubts
Government's Resolve

With Calgary on pace this year to break its annual homicide record,
the provincial government is vowing to get tough on crime and is
turning to a landmark study for the tools it needs.

The newly released 77-page report from the Crime Reduction and Safe
Communities task force offers potentially the most in-depth look ever
at the roots of crime in the province and the fallout it has on all Albertans.

"There's a dark story many Albertans may not want to hear about or
acknowledge. Our crime rates are higher than the rates in many other
provinces in Canada," says the task force report, released last week.
"The costs of crime are high and the impact on victims is devastating."

The impact on Calgarians has been especially tragic in 2007 -- a year
already marred by 28 homicides, just three short of a record 31 in 1992.

A spate of violence across Alberta has many people in the province
demanding more officers on the streets and a crackdown on crime.

But as the city inches toward an unwelcome and infamous record, the
task force report -- and subsequent government strategy -- propose
far more than just beefed-up law enforcement to protect Albertans.

From reintroducing chain gangs, to demanding greater corporate
participation in tackling crime, to forcing doctors to notify police
when they treat gunshot or stab wounds -- the report also urges the
government to incorporate several unconventional crime-fighting measures.

"I would like the government to be aggressive in not only supporting
some of these recommendations, but let's get the money behind it and
let's get going now," said Doug King, chair of justice studies at
Mount Royal College.

"It would be nice to see it implemented before an election instead of
being used as an election plank."

The province accepted fully or in principle 29 of 31 recommendations
from the task force report, released last week. Headed by Calgary
Tory MLA Heather Forsyth, the committee met with more than 1,700
Albertans in 14 communities in the spring.

The task force identified five priority areas for action:

- - Drug and alcohol addictions -- the committee said this must be "the
top priority";

- - Laws and the courts -- reinforce existing laws, introduce new ones
and ensure courts adequately deal with offenders;

- - Families, children and youth -- building positive skills in
children and youth before they get into trouble;

- - Policing -- hire more officers, improve reporting, target repeat
offenders and hot spots; and

- - Community actions -- residents and community agencies curb crime in
their neighbourhoods.

"What I've learned is violence has permeated every level of society,"
said Karen Venables, a task force member from Calgary whose son Devin
was killed five years ago by a single punch in a fight outside a
Bannister Road S.E. pub.

The recommended changes are desperately needed to make the streets
safer for all Albertans, Venables argued, adding that the focus must
begin with youths so that she doesn't lose another son.

"I'm still fearful every day," she said. "But I feel better with some
of the recommendations that we have in the report that we can make
Alberta safer."

In response to the report, the Stelmach government promised, among
other things, to allocate funding for more police officers in
communities across Alberta, although the exact number likely won't be
known until next spring's provincial budget.

"Whatever that number works out to, we're thrilled to have them,"
said Calgary police Chief Rick Hanson, although he noted the number
will certainly fall short of the 100 additional officers he needs.

Alberta ranks eighth among Canadian provinces with 168 police
officers per 100,000 people.

The government also pledged to crack down on repeat offenders, get
tough on drugs, and place a greater emphasis on prevention and
intervention. It's part of an effort to put a dent in the $5 billion
in direct and indirect costs of crime in Alberta each year.

"We've heard Albertans," declared Premier Ed Stelmach. "We're going
to lower the boom on crime."

Yet, achieving some of the government's goals will include adopting
some unconventional crime-fighting tools instead of just traditional,
gritty measures such as hiring more officers.

For example, the report recommends the province bring back chain
gangs of prisoners that are assigned to work projects, such as
maintaining parks, fighting fires or assisting with municipal initiatives.

Other alternative measures proposed include removing barriers to
sharing information between agencies, which has been accepted by the
government. The task force recommends government look at forcing
doctors and nurses -- who are often hesitant to disclose personal
health information -- to notify police when they treat gunshot or stab wounds.

Other provinces such as Ontario and Saskatchewan have already adopted
similar legislation. Police argue that failing to report the
information can interfere with their ability to investigate crimes
and protect the public.

In an effort to crack down on illegal drug use, the task force
recommended the province consider mandatory reporting of unusually
large electricity consumption, which could indicate an illegal drug
grow operation.

The government also pledged to hire more Crown prosecutors, add new
treatment beds for drug and alcohol addictions, and try to deter
judges from granting bail to chronic offenders.

Calgary's police chief said treatment and prevention initiatives are
key components in keeping our streets safe.

"There are a lot of people in jails (who) ought not to be there,"
Hanson said. "We need treatment facilities to work on people with
addictions, those that have mental-illness issues."

There are also promises to expand funding and treatment options to
domestic violence courts across Alberta, as well as develop a mental
health court on a trial basis.

Tougher enforcement of liquor and gaming laws, and using the proceeds
of crime to fund victim compensation are also part of the new strategy.

To implement the initiatives, the government will establish the Safe
Communities Secretariat by April 2008.

Opposition parties, however, said the government's plan is full of
empty promises and is only being pulled out because a provincial
election is expected within the next few months.

They argued the government's task force report on crystal meth, which
made several key recommendations for treatment and prevention of drug
use, has collected dust and hasn't produced many of the changes called for.

"People should go into this with their eyes open. As we approach an
election, the government wants to look like it's tough on crime,"
said NDP Leader Brian Mason. "But what we've seen time and again is
the government failing to meet the real needs with the resources that
are necessary."

Mason said the government isn't addressing the root causes of crime,
including poverty, lack of housing and poor education.

Liberal solicitor general critic Mo Elsalhy said he likes most of the
recommendations contained in the report, but noted there are no
details of when the government will enact them and what it means to
Alberta communities.

"They talk the talk about being tough on crime," Elsalhy said. "There
is no contract. There is no commitment."

Alberta Alliance Leader Paul Hinman, along with other opposition
MLAs, noted that Forsyth, a former solicitor general, and deputy
premier Ron Stevens, a longtime justice minister, were senior cabinet
ministers in the Klein government and failed to implement aggressive
measures over the years.

"It's analysis by paralysis," Hinman said. "I'm concerned this is
just more talk."

While the task force and opposition said cracking down on crime
requires an aggressive government response, the province wasn't the
only body singled out for needing to do more.

The report urges the wealthy corporate sector and individual
Albertans to step it up.

"Corporations are profiting considerably from Alberta's booming
economy," the report says. "They should shoulder some of the
responsibility for the consequences of this boom."

Yet, the impetus for "real and long-term change" comes from
individual Albertans who must reconnect with neighbours and be
vigilant in their communities.

"Every Albertan in this province has to start getting involved,"
added Forsyth, the task force chairwoman.

Alberta's total crime rate dipped six per cent in 2006, the
second-largest drop among the provinces, including noticeable
declines in reported sexual assaults and property crimes such as
break-ins (although Alberta still had the fourth-highest crime rate
among the provinces).