>> Mayor Don Iveson: WE'LL DO
ROLL CALL IN 90 SECONDS HERE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JUST CHECKING TO MAKE SURE YOU
CAN HEAR ME.
>> YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CHRIS, JUST CHECKING IN, IF
YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO CONFIRM
THAT YOU CAN HEAR US AND IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO UNMUTE, SO WE CAN
MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GOOD
MORNING.
WELCOME TO THE CONTINUATION OF
THE JUNE 15, 16, 17, 22, AND 4,
NONSTATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING.
I WOULD LIKE TO QUICKLY DO A
ROLL CALL WITH MEMBERS OF
COUNCIL FIRST, TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE IS HERE.
COUNCILLOR PAQUETTE?
>> PRESENT.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: COUNCILLOR
WALTERS.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: COUNCILLOR
BANGA.
>> PRESENT MR. MAYOR.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: COUNCILLOR
CARMEL CARTMELL.
>> COUNCILLOR CATERINA.
>> COUNCILLOR DZIADYK.
>> GOOD MORNING.
COUNCILLOR ESSLINGER?
>> GOD MORNING.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GOOD
MORNING.
COUNCILLOR HAMILTON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: COUNCILLOR
HENDERSON?
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: COUNCILLOR
KNACK.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GOOD
MORNING.
COUNCILLOR MCKEEN.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GOOD
MORNING.
COUNCILLOR NICKEL.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THAT'S
EVERYBODY.
WELCOME.
OKAY.
SO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE
ALL PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR.
AND WELCOME TO THE SPEAKERS ON
PANEL 10.
I WILL QUICKLY ROLL CALL YOU IN
THE SAME WAY, JUST TO MAKE SURE
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
VERIFY THAT YOU'RE WITH US,
BEFORE WE GET STARTED I'LL FIRST
EXPLAIN THE PROCESS FOR TODAY'S
NONSTATUTORY PUBLIC HEARING ON
THE REFERRED MOTION, REGARDING
THE EDMONTON POLICE COMMISSION.
AND MAYBE BEFORE I ALIGN THE
PROCESS.
IT IS LOOKING LIKE, AND WE WILL
CONSIDER A MOTION SOMETIME TODAY
TO THIS EFFECT.
THAT WE WILL COMPLETE THE PUBLIC
HEARING TODAY.
AND THEN THERE WON'T BE TIME TO
GET INTO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR
DEBATE ON THE MOTION OR THE MANY
AMENDMENTS I UNDERSTAND ARE
BEING CRAFTED.
THAT WON'T HAPPEN TODAY.
THAT WON'T HAPPEN THIS WEEK.
WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO
COUNCIL, BUT ALSO FOR THE
PUBLIC'S WEARNESS WILL BE THAT
WE CONTINUE TO CONTINUE THIS
DISCUSSION AT 9:30AM NEXT
TUESDAY.
 THAT IS THE EARLY
AVAILABLE SPACE WE WERE ABLE TO
SUBJECT TO THE.
>> IBLE OF THE EVERYONE WHO
KNEES TO BE PRESENT.
INFORMED BY ALL OF THE FEEDBACK
NOT JUST THROUGH THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
>> THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN
PANELED AND WILL PRESENT IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH HE REGISTERED
WITH THE CITY CLERK.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN FIVE
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE CLERK WILL RUN A TIMER IN
THE ROOM.
YOU MAY WISH TO HAVE YOUR OWN
TIMER TO PACE YOURSELF
ACCORDINGLY.
ONCE YOU FINISH SPEAKING PLEASE
MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE.
BUT PLEASE STAY ON-LINE.
AFTER PRESENTATION EACH COUNCIL
WILL BE GIVEN FINE MINUTES TO
ASK ONE ROUND OF QUESTIONS OF
THE PRESENTERS, IF THEY WISH.
EVER EACH PANEL A SHORT RECESS
WILL BE CALLED TO ALLOW US TO
SET UP FOR THE NEXT PANEL OF
PRESENTERS.
IF YOU WISH TO LISTEN AND FOLLOW
ALONG AFTER YOUR PANEL IS
COMPLETE, YOU AMAY AS ALWAYS DO
SO USING THE LIVE STREAM, WHICH
IS AVAILABLE ON
EDMONTONCA/MEETINGS.
THIS PROCESS, ESPECIALLY THE
VIRTUAL NATURE DOES REQUIRE
PATIENCE TO INSURE THAT ANYONE,
WHO DOES WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL
HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
ONE THING I WILL ASK.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THE
CHAT FUNCTION DURING THE
MEETING, AS IT CREATES ISSUES OF
DECORUM AND CAN PROVIDE UNFAIR
ADVANTAGE, AT THE EXPENSE OF
SOMEONE ELSE, WHO HAS THE FLOOR
AND IT CAN ACTUALLY INTERFERE
TECHNICALLY WITH THE LIVE STREAM
AND CREATE GLITCHES.
SO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THE
CHAT FUNCTION.
ADDITIONALLY, REMEMBER TO MUTE
YOUR MICROPHONE WHEN YOU'RE
PRESENTING OR ANSWERING
QUESTIONS.  IF YOU ARE
EXPERIENCING ANY DIFFICULTIES
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
DOES HAVE EXTRA RESOURCES ON
HAND TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION
WITH PARTICIPANTS
PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE CITY
CLERK USING THE CONTACT
INFORMATION THAT YOU RECEIVED IN
REPLY TO YOUR REGISTRATION.
SPEAKERS LIST FOR EACH PANEL
WILL BE PROVIDED ON
EDMONTONCA/MEETINGS FOR YOUR
REFERENCE.
>> FIRST IS MOWINGAN HODDER FROM
THE EDMONTON RANCHERS UNION.
>> YES, HELLO.
REQUEST GOOD MORNING.
>> NEXT ISISTY HAR COURT.
WE CAN SEE YOU, BUT YOU NEED TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THREE, CHRISTINA ELEVENNAN
INDICATES HAS WITHDRAWN.
SO JUST DOUBLE-CHECKING THERE'S
NO CHRISTINA.
NO.
NUMBER FOUR.
IS STEPHANIE MOTLEY.
>> PRESENT.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GOOD
MORNING WELCOME.
NEXT IS NATASHA FRIDAYIC.
FRI DECISION C.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: YES, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
SIX IS ALEXIS DEVILIB.
GOOD MORNING.
PRESENT.
SEVEN IS KALEB CROWS.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: IF HIGH
MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAMES PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME IN EIGHT
IS ANDREW KNOX.
>> PRESENT.
>> NUMBER NINE IS SIMON BURK.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: WELCOME.
NUMBER NINE IS JONAH ELKY.
>> I'M HERE.
THANK YOU.
NUMBER 11 IS LINDSEY SCHROEDER.
>> I'M HERE.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: WELCOME
NUMBER 12 IS ROSA EVE JENKINS.
>> PRESENT.
IT IS ROSE EVA FOREST JENKINS.
NUMBER 13 IS CASSIA HARDY.
>> SUPER.
WELCOME.
>> NUMBER 14 IS SOPHIE PIEAT.
SOPHIE PIYO.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
NUMBER 15 IS TAMAR DINNER.
>> DINNER AND I AM PRESENT,
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: NUMBER 16
IS ARENA HINDER.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M HERE.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: WELCOME.
OKAY.
WE HAVE 15 PANELISTS.
YOU HAVE UP INFORM FIVE MINUTES
STAND BY FOR QUESTIONS AND THAT
WILL TAKE TUS THROUGH THE LUNCH
BREAK.
MORTGAGE POTTER, YOU HAVE THE
FLOOR.
>> OKAY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS MORGAN HOTTER.
I AM SHE HE PRONOUNS AND A
RESIDENT OF WARD AT THE.
TO CALL FOR EDMONTON POLICE
SERVICES TO BE DEFUNDED.
THERE'S ONE PATTERN IN
PARTICULAR I FEEL IS NECESSARY
TO ADDRESS TODAY
AND THIS IS, WHEN WHITE WOMEN,
WHO IDENTIFY AS WIVES, MOTHER
AND DAUGHTERS OF COPS.
DEFEND THE POLICE IN A RELATIVES
NAME.
WHITE WOMEN, WE ALL THINK WE ARE
WHOLELY INNOCENT.
BECAUSE WE EXPERIENCE
PATRIOTARTAL OPPRESSION BUT WE
ARE NOT.
WE ARE PATRIOT A WHEN WE
ENDANGER BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE AND THOSE IN DEFENSE OF
THE SYSTEM OUR FEELINGS OF
PROTECTION AND SAFETY IS
PREDICATED ON THE PERSECUTION OF
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
HISTORICALLY WE HAVE ALWAYS KEPT
POWER IN THE HANDS OF WHITE MEN
BY DENYING VIOLENCE AND ENACTING
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE
DOING, WHEN WE ADVOCATE IN
FAVOUR OF POLICING.
THIS IS IN FACT, WHAT TRUSTEES
DID IN VOTING TO KEEP SORS IN
SCHOOLS AND ONE TRUSTEE ARGUED
WE NEED COPS IN SCHOOLS TO
PROTECT WHITE CHILDREN FROM
BLACK AND BROWN REFUGEE
CHILDREN.
HER AND OTHER TRUSTEES REFUSAL
TO DEFUND THE POLICE WITH OTHER
TRUSTEZE AND NEVER CALLED HER
OUT ON HER RACISM CONTINUES THIS
WORK THAT LITERALLY PUTS BLACK
AND BROWN LIVES IN DANGER.
WE ARE ALL-FREE BECAUSE SYSTEM
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CREATE
ENVIRONMENT DUE TO SEXUAL
VIOLENCE.
THE ONES WHITE WOMEN CLAIM
POLICE PROTECT US FROM.
LEASE 40% OF POLICE OFFICERS
COMMITTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AGAINST FAMILY MEMBERS IN
CONTRAST TO 10% OF PEOPLE IN THE
GENERAL POPULATION.
THESE ABUSIVE OFFICERS ARE
RARELY FIRED OR ELD ACCOUNTABLE.
EVEN IF YOUR POLICE FATHER ISN'T
ABUSIVE OR FEEL HAD HE IS AGY
PERSON THE INSTITUTION IS ONE
THAT CULTIVATES A SPACE, WHERE
GENDER INVESTIGATION VIOLENCE IS
PERMISSIBLE AND ACCEPTED.
DURING MORE, A 2017 STUDY
CONDUCTED BY THE GLOBE AND MAIL
INDICATES THAT 10% OF SEXUAL
ASSAULTS REPORTED IN EDMONTON
ARE DISMISSED AS UNFOUNDED.
AND CANADA, ONLY 34% OF SEXUAL
ASSAULT COMPLAINTS LEAD TO A
CHARGE.
AND EVEN IF ONE ABUSER IS
CHARGED THEY ENTER THE PRISON
SYSTEM THAT PERPETUATE CYCLES OF
GENDER VIOLENCE.
IT IS POLICING AND EXTENDS
PRISON SYSTEMS ARE ARE NOT
SURVIVOR CENTRED THEY ARE
COLONIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT
DISPROPORTIONATELY REMOVE BLACK,
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF
COLOUR FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES AS
A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ABUSE
MYSELF.
I CAN TELL YOU CALLING THE
POLICE TO PROTECT YOU IS NEVER A
OPTION I HAVE HEARD TOO MANY
STORIES OF WOMEN RETRAUMAATIZED
DURING THE REPORTING PROCESS AND
I DID NOT WANT TO RISK GOING
THERE THAT.
THE CITY OF EDMONTON OFFICIALS
ARTICULATE MY THOUGHTS.
SO I WILL QUOTE THEM.
"POLICING PRACTICES FAILED TO
BRING JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AND
SURVIVOURS.
AND EVEN INCREASED TRAUMA
SYMPTOMS.
QUESTION KNOW THAT SEXUAL
VIOLENCE AND ANTIBLACK RACISM
ARE INTICONNECTED INITIAL A
COLONIAL SOCIETIES THAT HAS
CONFIRM AND PARENTAL POWER AS
SURVIVOURS AND VICTIMS ARE NOT
BELIEVED AND ARE VICTIMIZE TO
EXPERIENCE BY EXPOSING THEM TO
DURING VIOLENCE.
ESPECIALLY IN EXPOSING TO BLACK
AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
POLICE BE DON'T KEEP PEOPLE SAFE
IT IS REACTIVE SYSTEM THAT NEVER
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF
SEXUAL VIOLENCE."
WE WILL ONLY HAVE A RAPE-FREE
SOCIETY WHEN SYSTEMS OF COLONIAL
PATRIOT AY ARE DISMANTLED
INCLUDING EDMONTON POLICE
SERVICES.
THIS IS WHY I STAND IN DEMANDING
THAT CITY COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY
DEFUND EDMONTON POLICE SERVICES
I WANT TO WORK TOWARDS THE
ABOLITION OF POLICE BAH THEY
EXACERBATE GENDER AND RACIAL
BIAS AND WANT TO ADDRESS THE
WHITE WOMEN OF THIS COUNCIL WE
ARE COLON ICERS TOO NOT JUST
WHITE MEN AND REFUSING TO DEFUND
POLICE AFTER HAVE BLACK PEOPLE
OF COLOUR AS COLONIAL SETTLER
VIOLENCE.
INSTEAD LET'S ALLOCATE FUNDS TO
COMMUNITY BUILDING INITIATIVES
AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL
BENEFIT ALL OF US.
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
CHRISTY HARCOURT.
ARE YOU ABLE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF
NOW?
>> WE HAVE STAFF WORKING HER TO
WORK THROUGH THE IT ISSUES.
>> NEXT WOULD BE STEPHANIE
MOTLEY.
>> HELLO.
GO AHEAD PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN ADDRESS
YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THE
PROSPECT OF DEFUNDING OR
MARGINALIZING POLICE IS ONE OF
THE MOST UNWISE.
IRRESPONSIBLE IN THE CITY TO
DATE.
I BELIEVE IT IS NOTHING MORE
THAN EMOTIONAL REACTION TO THE
POLITICIZING OF CURRENT EVENTS.
THE CAUSE FOR JUSTICE IS
UNDERSTANDABLE AND THE CAUSE FOR
CHANGE BUT DEFUNDING THE
EDMONTON POLICE IS NOT.
TO DEFUND WOULD BRING DISASTROUS
CONSEQUENCES AND PLACE OUR CITY
AND ITS RESIDENT
IT IS DEFUNDING HAPPENS A LOT OF
OFFICERS WILL POTENTIALLY MOVE,
BECAUSE THE BUDGET CUT WILL NOT
SUPPORT THE SHORT STAFFED POLICE
SERVICE.
EDMONTON POLICE CHIEF SAYS THE
MOVEMENT UPON POLICE WITH
TRAVERSING FOR BECOMING A MORE
DIVERSE ORGANIZATION.
DEFUNDING POLICE WOULD MEAN
LAYING OFF THE UNDEROFFICER
WHO'S TENDING TO MORE DIVERSE
AND ATTUNE TO MODERN POLICING
IDEAS.
THE STATISTICS PROVIDED SHOW THE
HIRING OF UNREPRESENTATIVED
GROUPS INCLUDING WOMEN,
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, VISIBLE
MINORITIES AND LBGTQ BE
UNDERMOTED IT IS MADE OF 51% OF
UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS COMPARED
TO 41.9% PREVIOUS IN 2015.
TO DEFUND WOULD UNDUE THE
PROGRESS MANY ARE SEEK.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE RESULT IN
INCREASED WAIT TIME FOR POLICE
IN CANADA.
RESPOND TO 13 MILLION CALLS FOR
SERVICE.
WITH ETS RESPONDING TO ONE CALL
EVERY TWO MINUTES.
24 HOURS PER DAY.
THE REALITY IS THE DEMAND FOR
POLICING SERVICE KEEPS GROWING
WHICH ISY BUDGET ARE EXPAND
CRIME WILL NOT TAKE A BACK ET
SEAT IT WILL ALWAYS BE PRESENT.
SERIOUS INCIDENTS ARE ALREADY
GIVEN PRIORITY.
BUT DEFUNDING RESULTS IN WAIT
TIMES FOR BREAK AND ENTERS.
TAKING HOURS FOR POLICE TO
RESPOND, IF THEY CAN EVEN
RESPOND AT ALL.
I THINK POLICE ARE FRUSTRATED
WITH THE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW TOO.
IF THE ARGUMENT IS THAT POLICE
THE AGENCY MENTAL HEALTH CALL
AND WELLNESS CHECKS.
I BELIEVE POLICE ARE IN
AGREEMENT.
PLAYING THE PART OF SOCIAL
WORKER SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED BY
POLICE.
YET POLICE ARE OFTEN EXPECTED TO
FILTHY ROLE.
IT IS ALSO BEEN MADE THAT DEFUND
THE POLICE AND TRANSFER FUNDS TO
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING
SOCIAL WORKERS IT WILL BE BETTER
AND SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH THIS IS
TAPOLICE ARE OFTEN CALLED TO THE
SCENE TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE
FOR SOCIAL
>> I RAISED TO SHOW A DEEP
RESPECT TO POLICE.
AND THE FAMILY FRIEND AND CAREER
MEMBER OF CHRISTY BRAYDEN.
WHEN I HAVE COME TO KNOW.
LIVING IN THE LGBTQ AND QS
COMMUNITIES IS MY EXPERIENCE
WITH POLICE IS DEEPLY SHAPED MY
BEING WHITE, MIDDLE CLASS AND
FAIRLY GENDER CONFORMING FOR
MANY FRIENDS AND CLIENTS OF ALL
AGES POLICE REPRESENT THE
OPPOSITE OF SAFETY.
PARTICULARLY FOR PEERS
INDIGENOUS, BLACK OR BROWN.
WHO ARE TRANSOR TWO SPIRIT OR
SEEKING A SAFE PLACE TO BE WHEN
HOME OR FOSTER HOME OR GROUP
HOME OR SHELTER ISN'T PLACE.
POLICE ARE NOT SAFE.
I HAVE WALK ALONGSIDE COUNTLESS
PEOPLE WHOSE EXPOSURE INVOLVED
BEING CARDED UNWELCOME, HARASSED
AND THREATENED BECAUSE OF
SYSTEMIC ISSUES WHEN PEOPLE ARE
HURT, INVOLVING POLICE OFTEN
WORSENS HARM RATHER THAN
RELIEVING IT AS POLICE
INVOLVEMENT LEADS TO
MISGENDERRING IN THE COURTS TO
HIGHER RATES OF INCARCERATION
AND HARESH UNSAFETY AND REMAND
PERHAPS BECAUSE OF MY UP
BRINGING I HAVE TRIED TO SUPPORT
POLICE PARTNERSHIP AND WORK TO
CHANGE THE COURSE OF POLICING
INCLUDING TAKING PART IN THE
POLICE COMMISSIONS SPEED CHECK
THE RESULTS OF WHICH THE THEN
CHIEF RE-ENTER PRETTED AND
DISMISSED IT IS TIME TO TRY
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
EPS IS 10 TIMES OF DIVERSING
FUNDS COULD EXPLORE WHAT SAFETY
MEANS FOR THEM AND CREATE ROOM
FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO LOOK
AFTER OURSELVES.
EPS OFFICERS ARE PUT INTO ROLES
THREE MISALIGNED WITH.
LEAVING EVERYONE VULNERABLE.
THE MOTION BEFORE COUNCIL SHOULD
BE REJECTED, BECAUSE IT IS
INSUFFICIENT.
FUNDING SHOULD BE DIVERTED FROM
THE EPS TO COMMUNITY-BASED
INITIATIVES THE EPS BUDGET
REVEALS THE CITY HAS FUNDS.
WE AS THE CITY ARE CHOOSING TO
DIRECT INTO POLICING RATHER THAN
IN COMMUNITY-BASED METHODS OF
CARE THAT PROVIDE A SAFER,
SAFETY NET FOR MORE EDMONTONANS.
I'M ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF
ANUAL DANCE AND FLAIR FOR LGBTQ
LGBTQ 2S TEAMS CALL THE QUEER
PROM IN THE RENTED CITY.
500 TEAMS.
2 DOZEN COMMUNITY GROUPS.
FOUR DRAG QUEENS AND ONE DJ
MAKINGIG TOGETHER EVERY YEAR
THEY ASK ABOUT POLICE AND HOW WE
WILL KEEP OUR EVERYONE SAFE.
OUR RESPONSE IS TO SHARE AN
EXTENSIVE SAFETY PLAN AND
EXPLAIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THE
PRESENCE OF POLICE WOULD DAMAGE,
RATHER THAN CONTRIBUE TO THE
FEELING OF SAFETY.
A KEY COMPONENT OF THE SAFETY OF
OUR EVENT FOR THE YOUTH WE
INVITE IS THE ABSENCE OF POLICE.
SO HOW DOES OUR COMMUNITY CREATE
SAFETY TOGETHER?
WE SHOW ACCOUNTABILITY BETWEEN
THE PARTICIPANTS.
TEENS WHO ATTEND ARE AWARE OF
THE RULES AND RESPECT THEM.
MEASURES TO AVOID THEFT ANDTY-
PREVENT THE EVENT BEING TARGETED
AND THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER
100 STRONG TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE
AND WELL.
QUEER YOUTH PROM IS ONE EVENT
ONE NIGHT A YEAR AND THE TINY
EXAMPLE HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN
ORGANIZE AND CARE FOR ITSELF.
I REQUEST COUNCIL BEGIN A
PROCESS OF REDUCING EPS BUDGET
AND DIVERTING THESE FUNDS INTO
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND
COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT
BUILD GREATER OWNERSHIP AND
SAFETY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS NAT ASHA.
>> HI, THERE.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GO AHEAD.
>> BASICALLY WHAT CHRISTY SAID.
HE-SHE PRONOUN A ACTIVE MEMBER
OF MY GROUP THE CANADIAN UNION
POSTAL WORKERS 730 WHERE I SERVE
AS A DELGATO THE COUNCIL.
THIS MOTION DOES NOT GO FAR
ENOUGH.
ENACTING THE DEMANDS PUT FORWARD
ON THE BLACK LIVE MATTER
EDMONTON WEB SITES AND DEFUNDING
THE POLICE AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE, AS IT IS AN URGENT
MATTER.
COUNCIL REINVEST
THAT $383 MILLION BUDGET INTO
NEW GRASSROOTS INFRASTRUCTURE.
PRIORITIZING FOR BLACK,
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES USING
THESE PRINCIPLES DO NOT VOTE TO
INCREASE THE EPS BUDGET.
IMMEDIATELY REPEAL
THE $75 MILLION BUDGET INCREASE
PROMISED TO THE EPS IN 2019.
SINCE EDMONTON POLICE HAVE
CONFIRMED 30% OF THEIR WORKLOAD
IS MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH
ADDITION AND OTHER SOCIAL
CHALLENGES.
IT FOLLOW THAT A MINIMUM 30% OF
THE POLICE BUDGET SHOULD BE
IMMEDIATELY REDIRECTED TO
PROFESSIONALS TRAINED IN
HANDLING ANY CRISIS RELATED BUT
NOT LIMITED TO MENTAL HEALTH,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
CHILDREN AND FAMILY MATTERS.
HEALTHCARE HOMELESSNESS AND
CHALLENGES ENGAGING YOUTH IN
SCHOOLS.
RATHER THAN INVESTING IN
POLICING PRIORITIZE FREE PUBLIC
TRANSIT.
CREATE MUNICIPALLY RUN
SAFE-INJECTION SITE
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND FREE NONCO-ERSIVE DRUG
TREATMENT FACILITIES INCREASE
FUNDING TO THE CRISIS DIVERSION
TEAM WITH NO POLICE INVOLVEMENT.
EXPAND 2:1.
TO INCLUDE NEIGHBOURHOOD CRISIS
PREVENTION AND DEESCALATION
TRAINING MAKING MOBILE DISPATCH
OF THESE SERVICES AVAILABLE
24/7.
CREATE UNIVERSAL DESIGN LOW
INCOME HOUSING AND EXPAND THE
LRT LINES TO EDMONTON AREA
MUNICIPALITIES AND CREATE
CHANNELS FOR MUNICIPAL PROPERTY
TO BE RETURNED TO INDIGENOUS
COUNCILS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR
THEIR OWN SOVEREIGN USE.
ADDITIONALLY IMMEDIATELY
UNDERTAKE A MASS PUBLIC CAMPAIGN
ABOUT CALLING 2-1-1.
>> WE DID IT WITH COVID AND WE
CAN CO-DO IT FOR EMERGENCY
SOCIAL SERVICES THIS IS NOT
CLEARLY LAID OUT ON THE BLACK
LIVE MATTER WEB SITES.
I'M SURE IF YOU HAVEN'T
YESTERDAY YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME
TO READ THEM THOROUGHLY.
AND I WANT TO DRAW YOUR
ATTENTION TO A STATEMENT
RECENTLY RELEASED TO MY UNION
PRESIDENT ROLAND SCHMIDT,
ENTITLED "SOLIDARITY AGAINST
RACISM AND STATE VIOLENCE."
THE LABOUR MOVEMENT KNOWS WELL
THE OPPRESSION GOVERNMENT AND
POLICE ARE WILLING TO INFLICT ON
THOSE DEMANDING JUSTICE.
NOT LONG AGO OUR OWN UNION WAS
PAINFULLY REMINDED THAT
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ONLY
EXIST, AS LONG AS THEY DON'T
INCONVENIENCE THE POWERFUL.
IF WE DARE TO DEFY THIS
AUTHORITY POLICE BOOTS AND FINDS
WOULD BE THERE TO REMIND US OF
OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD.
OUR VOTE INDIVIDUAL POLICE ARE
OFTEN RECRUITED FROM THE WORKING
CLASS.
THEIR GROUP INTERESTS, AS AN
INSTITUTION ARE UNCONDITIONALLY
HOSTILE TO THE EMPOWERMENT OF
THE REST OF THE WORKING CLASS,
AND ESPECIALLY UNIONS.
IF ANY OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE
BEHAVE THE WAY POLICE DO AND
HAVE DURING THE RESULTED GLOBAL
PROTESTS, THEY WOULD BE LABELED
AS CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS.
DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS A
POWERFUL FIRST STEP IN
REALIGNING POWER DYNAMICS
INFLUENCING OUR COMMUNITIES AND
OPPRESSING OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
COUNCILMEMBERS, DURING THESE
HEARINGS YOU HAVE HEARD AND WILL
CONTINUE TO HEAR EXPERT
TESTIMONIAL ANALYSIS AND WELL
RESEARCHED ADVICE, FROM BLACK
PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE,
PEOPLE OF COLOUR, AND EVEN WHITE
PEOPLE DEMANDING YOU ABOLISH THE
POLICE AND REINVEST THAT MONEY
INTO COMMUNITY.
WHAT A GIFT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
SO MANY HAVE GIVEN YOU THEIR
UNPAID TIME, RESEARCH, RESOURCES
AND STORIES TO GUIDE YOU IN YOUR
DECISION.
MAKING MENTION THAT HE KNOWS
MEMBERS OF THE EPS ARE FEELING
VERY ATTACKED.
SO HERE'S MY OFFER INTO WHY EPS
MEMBERS AND WHY COUNCILMEMBERS
ALIKE IF YOU FIND YOU ARE DOING
YOUR JOB WITH FEAR IN POLICING
OR DECIDING ON BEHALF OF YOUR
CONSTITUENTS HOW TO FUND OR IN
FACT DEFUND POLICING, LET'S
TALK.
LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR WHITE
FRAGILITY AND ENGRAINED WHITE
SUPREMACY AND LET'S EXAMINE WHY
WE WHITE PEOPLE ARE SO AFRAID OF
OUR OWN DISCOMFORT AND THE
VIOLENCE AND RACISM THAT
DEFENSIVENESS PERPETUATES.
IN YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER WHITE
PERSON IN YOUR LIFE YOU CAN
DISCUSS THESE THINGS WITH.
I WILL BE THAT WHITE PERSON FOR
YOU.
MAYOR IVESON I WILL E-MAIL YOU
MY CONTACT INFORMATION AND TRUST
YOU WILL SHARE IT WITH WISE
DISCRETION.
THANK YOU I YIELD MY TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU
MISS FRASIC FOR THAT GENEROUS
OFFER.
WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY
CLERK DISPERSE IT'S TO MEMBERS
OF COUNCIL CONFIDENTLY, OF
COURSE.
ALEXIS DEVILLA IS NEXT.
>> HELLO.
GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS ALEXIS.
MY PRONOUN ARE SHE HER.
A SECOND GENERATION IMMIGRANT
AND ON TREATY SIX TERRITORY.
I RESIDE IN WARD EIGHT.
ON JUNE 17.
COUNCIL UPDATED ON THE PUBLIC
HEARINGS CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN
HOLDING ON COMMUNITY SAFETY AND
POLICING IT.
WAS MAY 9 THAT PERSONAL STORIES
AND TESTIMONIES REGARDING POLICE
MOVED TO COUNCILMEMBERS TO FIND
THE RIGHT SOLUTION.
IT IS BARELY DIFFERENT FROM
UNDERSTANDING AND LIVING THE
EXPERIENCE OF THESE STORIES AND
TESTIMONIES.
POLICE GOVERNOR THE COMMUNITIES
THAT YOU DO NOT FULLY ENGAGE
IT IS VERSUS TOP DOWN POLITIC.
BUT TO ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL
POLITICAL CHANGE IT HAS TO
HAPPEN AT THE GRASSROOTS AND
SYSTEMIC INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL.
ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, TALK TO
COUNCIL ABOUT THE BUDGETING AND
FOR SAFETY INITIATIVES.
>> FOLLOWING DEEP PREFLEX OF
PERSON BIASES IF WE HOPE TO
BREAKDOWN SYSTEMIC ISSUES WE
NEED TO BE WEARY OF THE
INSTRUMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
THIS SYSTEM.
INCLUDES COUNCIL DEBATING AND
DECIDING WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD IN
DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND
COMMUNITY SAFETY WITHOUT THE
PARTICIPATION OF THE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
WHEN THIS BREAKDOWN THE
INSTRUMENTS OF RACISM AND
COLONIZATION IN EVERY STEP AND
INCLUDE BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE, NOT AS CONSULTANTS OR
SPEAKER AT A PUBLIC HEARING OR
AGENTS OF CHANGE.
IMAGINE INSTEAD OF LEARN AND
GAIN KNOWLEDGE.
INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE
TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES FOR THEM
YOU LET THEM CREATION SOLUTIONS
WE COULD NEVER THINK OF IN
THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
OUR KNOWLEDGE KEEPERS LIVE AND
EMBODY EXPERIENCES EVERY DAY TO
EMPHASIZE AND UNDERSTAND
HISTORICAL TRAUMA THE
EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTION.
DESPITE RACISM AND COLONIZATION
THEY ARE ALIVE ASK BREATHING
FIGHTING WHAT THESE TO BE DONE
AND WITH DIGNITY.
COUNCIL, YES, WE MUST DEFUND THE
POLICE AND REALLOCATE FOR OTHER
FORMS OF COMMUNITY SAFETY.
HOWEVER, THIS WILL NOT BE
ACHIEVED WITH YOUR LEARNING OF
TRENDS AND EXPERTS OF ADVICE
ALEARN.
CHANGE THE MOTION TO NOT JUST
ENGAGE EXTERNAL SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS
TO BRING REPORTS SUMARRIZING
TRENDS AND CHANGE MODELS 1B.
BUT PROVIDE AGENCY AND DECISION
MAKING POWER TO BLACK,
INDIGENOUS AND OTHER
MARGINALIZED MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMUNITY TREAT CRY 6 TERRITORY
IN
THE STRUCTURE OF ADVISEMENT FOR
COUNCIL TO DELIBERATE AND
PROVIDE SOLUTIONS I SUGGEST WE
PUT BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DECISION OF
THEIR SAFETY.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD THE REST
OF MY TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
NEXT IS KALA VALIDIS, CRUZ.
>> HELLO.
>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IS
A STORY OF HOMELESSNESS AND
POVERTY MENTAL ILLNESS AND
ADDICTION AND THOSE EXPERIENCING
THESE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
VULNERABLE TO POLICE
MISTREATMENT AND INCARCERATION I
HOPETO I CAN BRING LINKS TO THE
GAPS.
IT HAS.
MY BROTHER SUFFERED PARANOID
CONCLUSIONS HE WAS GIVEN
TREATMENT AND ALSO HOMELESS.
IMAGINE HAVING NO HOME, SCHEDULE
OR REGULAR MEALS AND IMAGINE
HAVING A MENTAL ILL NECESSARY
THAT CONVINCED YOU THERE WAS A
NETWORK OF EVIL FORCES WATCHING
AND WAITING TO HURT YOU.
THE STRESS OF THESE SOLUTIONS
ARE COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT
YOU ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY BY
THE POLICE.
YOU CAN'T REMEMBER IF YOU TOOK
YOUR MEDICATION.
YOU TAKE ANOTHER ONE OR MAYBE
YOU SKIP IT.
EITHER WAY YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T
KNOW HOW TO DOPE WITH WHAT
YOU'RE FEEDING AT INTERVALS IT
CAUSES CONFUSION AND JUST WANT
TO NUMB FROM THE SUFFERING OF
YOUR DAILY REALITY.
YOU STEAL A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY
AND POLICE ARE CALLED AND HELD
AT THE REMAND UNTIL YOU CANNOT
SEEN BY THE COURT.
YOU START MAKING PLANS TO GET
OUT AND DREAM OF THE DAY TO BE
REUNITED WITH YOUR DAUGHTER.
YOU'RE RELEASED FROM JAIL IN THE
FALL.
THERE'S A BITE IN THE AIR
REMINDS YOU HOW CRUCIAL IT IS
YOU FIND A HOME ASK A JOB.
YOU GO TO THE MR. PRINT RESUMES
AND HAND THEM OUT.  YOU'RE NOT
QUALIFIED FOR SOME JOBS.
OTHER JOBS JUST DON'T LIKE THAT
NERVOUS SHIFT THAT YOU DEVELOPED
AFTER YEARS OF BEING DISMISSED
BY SOCIETY.
MAYBE THEY'RE JUST UNCOMFORTABLE
WITH THE NATIVE WORKING IN THEIR
STORE.
A PEACE OFFICER ASKED WHAT
YOU'RE DOING IN THE MALL AND
ESCORTS YOU OUT.  YOUR STUFF WAS
STOLEN AT THE SHELTER WHILE YOU
WERE SLEEPING.
YOU'RE ASHAME YOUR PLAN IS
FAILING QUICKLY AND SCARED
YOU'RE BEING WATCHED AGAIN.
YOU STEAL ANOTHER BOTTLE.
THIS TIME YOU'RE PICKED UP FOR
BEING DRUNK AND DISORDERLY IN
PUBLIC.
YOU THING TO THE OTHER TIMES YOU
INTERACTED WITH POLICE.
YOU THINK BACK TO CHRISTMAS,
WHEN YOU WENT TO SEE A MOVIE
WITH FAMILY AND WENT OUT FOR A
CIGARETTE ALONE.
THE POLICE QUESTIONED YOU WHY
YOU WERE THERE.
TREY ERPRACTICING TO BRING YOU
DOWNTOWN WHEN YOUR DAN VOUCHES
FOR YOU WHY DID IT TAKE A WHITE
MAN WORD FOR THE POLICE TO
BELIEVE YOU.
>> YOU REMEMBER THE TIME YOU
WERE OUT AT THE FAMILY HOME.
A CAT GOT OUT LATE AT NIGHT.
YOU AND YOUR BROTHER WENT
LOOKING FOR HIM.
THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND YOU
AND YOUR BROWN SKIN BROTHER HEND
ENDED UP WITH KNEES IN YOUR
BACK.
AND THE WHITE COUSIN EXPLAINED
THE TWO NATIVES WERE OKAY TO BE
THERE.
AND ANOTHER TIME YOU GAVE INTO
SEDITION AND BOOKED FOR BREECH
OF PROPATION.
THE OFFICERS USED YOU AS TARGET
PRACTICE WITH THEIR THIS IS AERS
THEY LAUGHED UNTIL THEY WERE
TOLD TO KNOCK IT OFF.
A FEW MORE MONTHS IN JAIL.
YOU'RE FAMILY KNOWING YOU
SUCCUMB TO THE HARSH WINNER
ALMOSTS AND WONDER WHY THEY FEEL
THE JAIL IS THE SAFEST PLACE FOR
YOU.
JAIL IS THE PLACE TO HOLD
CRIMINALS YET IT FEELS LIKE THE
SAFEST PLACE FOR YOU?
WHY IS THAT?
YOU'RE RELEASED AFTER A FEW
MONTHS AND THE CYCLE CONTINUES.
THIS TIME YOU'RE PICKED UP BY
THE COPS TO BECAUSE THEY WERE
CALLED TO DEAL WITH A DRUNK WITH
NO SHOES, AND NO SHIRT LAYING ON
A BENCH.
THE POLICE WERE CALLED ON A MAN,
CLEARLY IN NEED OF CARE.
AND THE POLICE ARRESTED YOU.
YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF YOUR
PROBATION AGAIN.
YOU'RE BROUGHT TO A POLICE
STATION WHERE YOU RECEIVE TWO
HEALTH CHECKS ASK CLEARED FOR
CUSTODY BOTH TIME.
THIRD TIME CONCERNS ARE RAISED
AND YOU'RE RUSHED TO THE ICU.
YOU'RE FAMILY IS CALLED.
YOUR BRAIN HAD A BLEED.
A SERIOUS INJURY INSURED YOUR
DEATH.
YOUR FAMILY HELD YOUR HANDS AS
MACHINES DID YOUR BREATHING AND
KEPT YOUR ORGAN AS LINE.
THE POLICE STAY OUTSIDE OF THE
ROOM.
EXCEPT FOR ONE, WHO STATIONED
AS YOUR FAMILY CRIED OVER YOUR
LIFELESS BODY.
YOU DIED THE SAME WAY YOU LIVED
MUCH OF YOUR 20S IN
POLICE CUSTODY.
SIX MONTHS LATER THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER MOVEMENT COMES TO
EDMONTON FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF
GEORGE FLOYD.
HIS DEATH REMINDS ME OF YOU.
I REMEMBER ALL OF THE TIMES YOU
TOLD ME YOU WERE TREATED CRUELLY
BY THE POLICE.
I REMEMBER YOUR DELUSIONS TOO.
HOW MUCH OF THE POLICE
INTERACTIONS YOU SUFFERED BREED
YOUR MISTRUST OF AUTHORITY ASK
FEED INTO YOUR PSYCHOSIS.
I WONDER IF YOU WOULD STILL BE
HERE IF YOU WEREN'T TREATED
DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF YOUR SKIN
COLOUR.
IF YOU WEREN'T PUT IN JAIL EVERY
TIME YOU TRIED TO SELF MEDICATE
WITH ALCOHOL.
WHY DID IT FEEL LIKE JAIL WAS
THE SAFEST PLACE FOR YOU?
WHY DID NOBODY SEE YOU NEEDED
HELP, NOT JAIL.
WHERE IS THE SAFETY NET FOR YOU?
HOW MANY LIVES COULD BE SAVED IF
WE HAD MORE RESOURCES TO
ALLOCATE TO MENTAL HEALTH AND
ADDITION CRISES.
WHAT DIFFERENCE WERE YOU TREATED
LIKE A MAN EXPERIENCING A HEALTH
CRISIS RATHER THAN A CHRONICCLE
HOW MUCH DID YOUR SKIN COLOUR,
RAP SHEET AND LACK OF HOME
EFFECT ON THE DAY YOU WERE
PICKED UP BY THE POLICE AND
LATER DIED.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS.
ONLY QUESTIONS.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
NEXT IS ANDREW KNOX.
>> HELLO.
ANDREW HERE.
VERY MOVING STORY BY CALLA.
I USE HE AND HIM PRONOUNS.
I RESIDE IN WARD EIGHT ON TREATY
SIX TERRITORY NOW KNOWN AS
EDMONTON.
I STAND WITH THE EDMONTON AREA
BLACK LIVES MATTER CHAPTER AND
DEMAND THEIR CALLS FOR CITY
COUNCIL TO DEFUND POLICE BE MET.
THE EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE AS
STATED BEFORE.
THEIR ARE 383 MILLION BUDGET
SHOULD BE REINVESTED TO NEW
GRASSROOTS INFRASTRUCTURE.
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS THAT PRIORITIZE
COMMUNITY SAFETY FOR BLACK,
INDIGENOUS, AND OTHERWISE
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
REINVESTING THAT $75 MILLION
BUDGET CURRENTLY PROMISED INTO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE MENTAL
HEALTHCARE PROGRAMMING AND
COMMUNITY LEAD ORGANIZATIONS.
THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS
LIES IN THE FOLLOWING THE LEAD
OF THE ALREADY EXISTING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WORKING WITHIN
THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL AND
IMMEDIATE WAYS TO DEFUN THE
POLICE IS TO ELIMINATE THE
STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM
IN ALL SCHOOLS IMMEDIATELY.
AS A TEACHER I BELIEVE THAT
ELIMINATION OF THE SSOR PROGRAM
IS ESSENTIAL STEP IN CREATING A
ENVIRONMENT TO FOSTER SUCCESS
FOR ALL STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND LGBTQ
LGBTQ 2A PLUS STUDENTS.
STUDENTS OF COLOUR EXPERIENCE
DISPROPORTIONATE VIOLENCE AND
CRIMINALIZATION.
OFFICERS SHOW STUDENTS HOW
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM WORKS
AGAINST THESE PEOPLE.
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS STUDENTS BY
ARRESTING STUDENTS ALLOCATING
COSTLY FINDS AND IMPLICATING
STUDENTS IN ENTRAPMENT PROGRAMS
SUCH AS THE BAIT CELLPHONE
PROGRAM.
THE SOR PROGRAM NOT ONLY ACTS AS
EXTENSION OF THE GREATER
POLICING SYSTEM BY DENYING
STUDENTS ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN
THE SAFE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT BUT MAY ALSO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CANADIAN
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.
INSTEAD OF MAKING SCHOOLS SAFER.
IT INFUSES THEIR LEARNING WITH
TRAUMA FROM PAST EXPERIENCE.
CREATING BARRIERS FOR ACCESS AND
PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATION
DETERRING BLACK ANDIGE.
>> FROM PURSUING HIGHER
EDUCATION.
THE EDMONTON SCHOOL BOARD PAYS
THE EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE 50%
OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
SALARIES.
AS NOT EDUCATOR I FIND THIS
ALARMING IT IS COMPLETELY
INAPPROPRIATE USE OF SCHOOL
FUNDS.
WITHOUT PAYING THOSE COSTS, THE
EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN
PROVIDE MORE EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE, ADVOCACY WORKERS.
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
SUCCESS COACHES YOUTH
MENTORSHIPS AND MORE THAT WOULD
BETTER SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
WE NEED TO CREATE SAFE SPACES
AND STUDENT GROUPS THAT SERVE
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS YOUTH.
FUNDS ARE NEEDED TO DO THAT,
INSTEAD OF CONTINUING THE
CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR YOUTH.
IF YOU NEED FURTHER EVIDENCE TO
ELIMINATE THE SOR PROGRAM LOOK
TO THE TORONTO DIGIT SCHOOL
BOARD WHO ABOLIBBED THEIR SOR
PROGRAM IN 2017 AND THE BLACK
LIVES MATTER EDMONTON CHAPTER
FOR CONCRETE EXAMPLES AND
ADVICE.
I HAVE DRAWN FROM THESE SOURCES
TODAY.
ELECTED OFFICIALS, PLEASE TAKE
THIS INFORMATION INTO ACCOUNT
UPON MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH
THE EPS BOARD DISCUSSED THIS ON
TUESDAY IT IS STILL IMPORTANT TO
KEEP THE DISCUSSION MOVING
WITHIN CITY COUNCIL AND ALL
SCHOOL BOARDS.
STUDENTS NEED MENTORS THAT THEY
DECIDE TO FOLLOW AND NOT POLICE
OFFICERS THAT ARE FORCED UPON
THEM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU
MR. KNOX.
NEXT IS SIMON BURK.
>> HI.
I'M SIMON BURK.
THANK YOU ALL FOR INVITING ME
HERE AND LISTENING.
I LIVE IN WARD 11.
I'M REPRESENTED BY COUNCIL
WALTERS HAPPY TO SAY I VOTED FOR
ALONG WITH YOU MAYOR IVESON IT
IS BEEN A JOY TO FOLLOW ALONG
WITH THIS HEARING.
BUT WHAT I AMIESING FROM THIS
CONVERSATION IS THE CASE FOR
ABOLITION.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TRY TO
DO.
I HAVE A LOT.
FIVE MINUTES ISN'T A LOT OF
TIME, SO MAYOR IVESON SAID IS ON
BOARD WITH DELIVERING A MORE
JUST, PREVENTIVE, INCLUSIVE
POLICY.
POLICE COMMISSION CHAIR MICKY
RUTH SAID CHANGES WE MAKE MUST
BE LARGE AND SUSTAINABLE.
WHEN I HEAR THE WORD SUSTAINABLE
I THINK ABOUT FOOD SECURITY.
I THINK ABOUT ALLEVIATING
POVERTIY.
I THINK ABOUT PERM CULTURE AND
COMMUNITY GARDENING INITIATIVE.
I'M A VOLUNTEER AT MY BLUE QUILL
COMMUNITY LEAGUE AND EFCL
MEMBER.
WE JUST GOT STARTED WITH OUR
COMMUNITY GARDEN A MONTH AGO.
IT HAS BEEN EXCELLENT.
WE DON'T HAVE--
WE FUND RAISE.
WE'RE GET MONEY FROM THE CITY
AND FROM THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT.
BUT WE ALSO RELY ON FUNDRAISING
MUCH LIKE WE DO, WHEN I
VOLUNTEER TO SUPPORT MY LOCAL
MLA WHO IS WONDERFUL.
UNLIKE MY M.P.
CHIEF MCFEE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE IT
IS WEIRD TO CALL HIM CHIEF
MCFEE.
HE SAYS SYSTEMIC RACISM HAS
EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS AND DATES
BACK LONGER THAN ANYONE IN THIS
ROOM.
WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE WORK NEEDS
TO BE DONE AND CANNOT MISS THIS
OPPORTUNITY IT.
MUST BE A CATALYST FOR REAL,
MEANINGFUL CHANGE.
WE NEED TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE
STATUS QUO AND DRIVE CHANGE.
IT IS UNANIMOUS AND IT IS A
COMMITMENT.
CHIEF MCFEE SAYS THAT 82% OF THE
POLICE BUDGET RIGHT NOW IS
SALARY.
HE SAID THAT IF WE GO THROUGH
WITH THIS AND SECURE THIS MOTION
TO NOT GIVE THE $75 MILLION FOR
FISCAL YEAR STARTING IN
SEPTEMBER HE WOULD HAVE TO FIRE
HIS MOST RECENT 500 HIRES, WHICH
ARE A GREAT DIVELOCITY.
CHIEF MCFEE SAYS DIVERSITY IS
THE BIGGEST ASSETS TO DRIVE
CHANGE.
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE AN BOLITION
SAYING DIVERSITY IS A CORPORATE
STRATEGY DESIGNED TO INSURE THE
INSTITUTION US FUNCTIONS IN THE
SAME WAY WITH MORE BLACK AND
BROWN FACES.
VISION 2020 WAS HAS BEIJING
HUGELY SUCCESSFUL BALANCES
REDUCING DEMAND WITH
ENFORCEMENTS.
THAT'S A QUOTE FROM MCFEE.
CHIEF MCFEE SAYS VISION 2020 HAS
BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THE
COLLABORATION OF THE COMMUNITY
AND SUCCEEDED ONLY WITH THE
COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER TO
ACHIEVE RESULTS.
WE HAVE TO IMPROVE OUT COMES AND
REDUCE CALLS FOR SERVICE.
REDUCE CALLS FOR SERVICE AND
IMPROVE OUT COMES.
OF THE 140 COMMUNITY AGENCIES
THAT HE HAS REFERRING TO I CAN'T
EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THOSE 140
COMMUNITY AGENCIES COULD PICK
THEMSELVES DOING WITH
SAY $400 MILLION.
UNLIKE THE POLICE, THESE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVEN'T
HAD THE LUXURY TO IMAGINE UP A
USE FOR A TANK OR A HELICOPTER.
OR $400 MILLION.
IT IS NOT REALLY ABOUT THE
THE $75 MILLION OR
THIS $400 MILLION.
IT IS ABOUT EDMONTON BEING A
PIONEER IN WHAT IS A GLOBAL
MOVEMENT.
POLICE ARE BEING ABOLISHED.
MINNEAPOLIS, CERTAINLY SURPRISED
US ALL BY VOTING TO DISBANDED.
SEATTLE RIGHT NOW IS TALKING
ABOUT THEIR $400 MILLION BUDGET
AND TALKING ABOUT REDUCING THAT
TO $200 MILLION.
CUTTING IN HALF.
THEY HAVEN'T SET A TIME GOAL IT.
MIGHT TAKE TWO OR FIVE YEARS.
EDMONTON COULD BE A LEADER HERE.
WE COULD BE A LEADER.
OR WE CAN BE ON THE WRONG SIDE
OF HISTORY ESSENTIALLY.
FOR TOO LONG FOR TOO MANY
COMMUNITIES THE POLICE HAVE NOT
BEEN WHAT WE HOPED THEY ARE.
AND I DON'T THINK IT IS A MATTER
OF THEIR BEING GOOD OR BAD COPS.
IT IS NOT BAD APPLES IT IS
POLICING ITSELF THAT IS THE
ISSUE.
WE'RE FORTUNATE IN EDMONTON I'VE
BEEN THRILLED WITH CHIEF MCFEE.
WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH
GOOD POLICE HERE, BUT WHAT DOES
JUSTICE LOOK LIKE FOR RODNEY
LEVI WHO THE RCMP SHOT AND
KILLED LAST WEEK.
WHAT DOES JUSTICE LOOK LIKE FOR
ANY OF THESE VICTIMS OF POLICE
VIOLENCE OR POLICE BRUTALITY.
IT IS NOT JUST THE EPS BUT THE
EPS AND THE PEACE OFFICERS AND
THE RCMP.
AND THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF
ENFORCEMENT.
VP.
THERE SEEMINGLY NO END TO IT.
WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE
RESULTS.
I CAN AGREE WITH CHIEF MCFEE
THAT $6 TO $8 MILLION FOR BODY
CAMS.
MAYBE THAT'S NOT EFFECTIVE.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: I'M AFRAID.
>> I CAN'T AGREE SOR ARE
POSITIVE.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: I'M AFRAID
YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THAT'S FAIR.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
THERE MAY BE SOME QUESTIONS FOR
YOU, SO STAND BY.
>> I'LL STICK AROUND.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: NEXT IS
THAT WAS MR. BURK, RIGHT?
NEXT IS JONAH ELKY.
>> HI, THERE MY NAME IS JONAH.
MY PRONOUNS ARE HE AND THEY.
>> I LIVE IN WARD SEVEN.
I HAVE LIVED ON THIS LAND THAT
WE KNOW AS EDMONTON FOR 12
YEARS.
I WAS RECENTLY WORKING FOR A
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAM THAT
WORK WITH YOUTH.
I WAS WORKING WITH A YOUNG
PERSON.
A TEENAGER.
A CHILD, WHO HAD BEEN CHARGED
WITH ASSAULTING AN OFFICER.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, AS I DID.
YOU PROBABLY THINK THAT THIS
PERSON THREW A PUNCH OR MAYBE
USED BEAR SPRAY AT AN OFFICER.
NO, THIS YOUNG PERSON.
THIS CHILD SPAT AT A COP AND
THEIR SPIT DIDN'T EVEN LAND ON
THE OFFICER.
THEY WERE CHARGED FOR ASSAULTING
AN OFFICER.
IT IS WILD TO ME THAT THERE'S A
PROFESSION WHERE YOU'RE
PROTECTED BY THIS KIND OF LAW.
THERE ARE PLENTY CRY OF PUBLIC
SERVANTS THAT ARE SPIT ON BY THE
DAILY BASIS.
MY PARTNER IS A TEACHER WHO
WORKS WITH KIDS WITH SEVERE
BEHAVIOUR DISORDERS.
STUDENTS HAVE PUNCHED HER IN THE
FACE AND THREAT ENDED HER WITH
WEAPONS.
SHE USUALLY DEESCALATES WITHOUT
TOUCHING THE STUDENTS AND MAKE
LESS THAN AN ENTRY LEVEL EPS
OFFICER AND SHE'S BEEN TEACHING
FOR FIVE YEARS WHEN MY PARTNER
IS SPAT ON SHE LET'S THE YOUTH
CAN CALM DOWN AND HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT WAS HAPPENED
WHEN A YOUNG PERSON I WORKED
WITH HAD A POLICE OFFICER.
A SHIELD WAS PLACED AND HE WAS
PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED BY TWO
OFFICERS HE WAS PUNISHED
ENTHOUGH HIS SPIT DID NOT LAND
ANYWHERE ON THE OFFICER.
HE WAS PUNISHED FOR DISOBEYING
NOT FOR DOING HARM.
OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A PUNITIVE
SYSTEM.
A PUNITIVE SYSTEM OPERATES UNDER
THE BELIEF THERE ARE RULES FOR
OUR BEHAVIOUR AND PEOPLE WHO
BREAK THESE RULES SHOULD BE
PUNISHED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS
A CONTRAST PUNITIVE JUSTICE.
AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ALL
CRIME IS VIEWED IN TERMS OF HURT
RELATIONSHIP.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS BASED ON
INDIGENOUS JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM
CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND IT IS THE
WAY JUSTICE WORKED FOR SOME
COMMUNITIES BEFORE TURTLE ISLAND
WAS COLONIZED RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE IS WAY OF DECREASING
POLICE BUDGETS BY DIVERTING SOME
SITUATIONS BACK TO COMMUNITIES.
A SIMILAR PROCESS HAS OCCURRED
WITHIN YOUTH JUSTICE.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS
WORK WELL AT SUPPORTING YOUTH
ACCOUNTABLE BUT FALL APART WHEN
THEY INTERFACE WITH THE COURT.
THE COURT SEE THE MOST VALUABLE
OUT COMES OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
THE REBUILT RELATIONSHIPS AS TO
QUESTION THE A CROWN PROSECUTOR.
TWO AIRY FAIRY FOR THE COURT TO
CONSIDER VALUABLE.
I'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT IN THE
SYSTEM THAT CONTAINS RESTORATIVE
AND PUNITIVE JUSTICE.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ISN'T TAKE
SERIOUSLY THIS PUNITIVE JUSTICE
SYSTEM ISN'T INTERESTED IN
ACCOUNTABILITY OR RIGHTING
WRONG.
I DON'T BELIEVE RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE IS ADJUST TO POLICE.
PEOPLE WHO MAKE MISTAKE FIRE FOR
LIVELIHOOD AND LIVES IT CREATES
A CULTURE OF SHAME, BECAUSE
TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY MEANS
PUNISHMENT.
PEOPLE CAN'T BE ACCOUNTABLE IF
THEY FEEL SAFE.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS SOMETHINGEX PS
THROUGH THE RACIST CARDING
PRACTICES IN 2017 AND PRESENTLY
IN THEIR INABILITY TO ADDRESS
SYSTEMIC RACISM IN ANY
SUBTANTTIVE WAY.
IF SOMEONE TELLS YOUR ACTIONS
HAVE HURT THEM TAKING
ACCOUNTABLE LOOKS LIKE LISTENING
INVESTIGATING AND TAKING TIME TO
INVEST THE HARMS YOU CAUSED THEY
ARE NOT ANALYZING DATA ABOUT
RACISM WITHIN THEIR FORCE AS FAR
AS I KNOW.
THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION INTO
CARDING EPS IS GIVE THE CHANCE
TO CHANGE RACIST BEHAVIOUR AND
THEY DID NOT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY WILL.
BECAUSE EPS HAS SHOWN
INABILITIABILITY FOR THEIR
ACTIONS INRESTORETIVE JUSTICE TO
OUR COMMUNITIES NOT THE VICTIMS
OF OUR ACTIONS TO HOLD
USABILITY.
IN EPS CASE THE COMMUNITY IS
YOU, MR. IVESON AND YOU CITY
COUNCILORS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
DISPROPORTIONATELY EFFECTED BY
THE DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIOURS
ARE TELLING YOU IT IS A PROBLEM.
IT IS UP TO YOU TO HOLD
EPSABILITIABLE.
THE POLICE COMMISSION IS NOT
PROVIDING OVERSIGHT YOU CITY
COUNCILORS ARE NOT PROVIDING
SUFFICIENT OVERSIGHT.
DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THE WORLD
WHERE ARMED POLICE FORCE CAN
ATTACK AND KILL CIVIL CANS WITH
MINIMAL OVERSIGHT AND NO
ACCOUNTABLE.
I DON'T BELIEVE ANY NOTICEABLE
CHANGE WILL OCCUR WITHOUT
TRANSFORMATION OF MUNICIPAL,
PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL
BEYOND SIMPLY DEFUNDING POLICE
WE NEED TO ABOLISH POLICE IN
EDMONTO I BELIEVE TOQUE
RECONCILIATION WILL BE
IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL PEOPLE ARE ABLE
TO ADMIT WE HAVE BEEN DISMISSIT
IN A DELIBERATERY RACIST STEM.
I URGE YOU MR. IVESON AND
COUNCILORS TO REFLECT WHETHER
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ENDORSE
SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THIS CITY.
AT THE LEAST I THINK YOU SHOULD
TAKE THE MOTION SERIOUSLY ASK I
THINK YOU SHOULD ELIMINATE THE
SOR PROGRAM MOODILY DID YOU HEAR
WHAT THAT TRUSTEE SAID ABOUT
PROTESTING WHITE KIDS FROM
REFUGEE KIDS.
RIDICULOUS.
YEAH.
TELL ME AGAIN SYSTEMIC RACISM
ISN'T AN ISSUE HERE.
>>> RY RECOMMEND YOU THINK ABOUT
THIS, WHILE SITTING IN YOUTH
COURT.
I THINK THEY'RE RE-OPENING ON
JULY 6.
MAYBE BEING SURROUNDED BY
LITERALLY 100 RACIALIZE CHILDREN
BEING PUNISHED FOR MINOR
INFRACTIONS WILL INSPIRE YOU TO
THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT POLICING
FOR ME A SAFE CITY IS A CITY
WITHOUT COPS I STAND AND LLMBP
PLEASE DEFUND POLICE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
I YELLED THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: NEXT IS
LINDSEY SCHROEDER.
>> FAY FAMILY IS WORRIED ABOUT
ME SPEAKING WITH POLICE MEMBERS
ATTACKED AND THREATENED ON THE
STREETS MOST OF THE PEOPLE I
KNOW FEEL THEY ARE IN DANGER IF
THEY SHOW ANY OPPOSITION TO
DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
WHILE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT
SOCIAL SERVICES AND OUTREACH
PROGRAMS REQUIRE MORE FUNDING
AND SHOULD BE DOING SOME OF THE
CALLS THAT EPS GO TO.
I ALSO DON'T BELIEVE THAT
ABOLISHING EPS IS THE ANSWER.
WHEN WE HAVE NOT ALL RACISTS ARE
POLICE.
THE DISCRIMINATION EXISTS
EVERYWHERE IN THE CITY.
AND THAT NEEDS TO END EVERYWHERE
IN THE CITY.
WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
I WAS INVOLVED IN A SITUATION
THAT REQUIRED A 9-1-1 CALL.
OUR ADULT NEIGHBOUR HAD GRABBED
THE OLDEST OF OUR GROUP A
12-YEAR-OLD BOY AND PHYSICALLY
ASSAULTED HIM.
WHILE HE WAS HELD TO THE GROUND
BY HIS NECK, HE CALLED TO HIS
SON TO GO INTO THE HOUSE TO GRAB
A KNIFE.
WHEN MY MOTHER HEARD WHAT WAS
GOING ON SHE CALL 9-1-1
IMMEDIATELY AND GATHERED US
AROUND THE FRONT STEP.
THIS INDIVIDUAL THEN DECIDED TO
GET INTO HIS VAN AND AT FULL
SPEED HE DROVE ACROSS OUR LAWN
IN THE ATTEMPTS TO HIT 13
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN.
POLICE ARRIVED SHORTLY AND THEY
DEESCALATE THE SITUATION AND TO
THIS DAY I REMEMBER THE RELIEF I
FELT WHEN I SAW THE POLICE CAR
ARRIVING.
AND I FELT SAFE AND PROTECTED,
BECAUSE THIS MAN COULD NO LONGER
HURT ME.
IF EPS HASN'T ARRIVED THAT DAY
AND DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
DO SO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED.
WOULD A NEIGHBOUR HAVE STEPPED
IN?
DOUBTFUL.
NOT ONE NEIGHBOUR CAME OUT OF
THEIR HOUSE THAT DAY, WHILE MANY
LOOKED ON.
AND WOULD THEY HAVE BEEN
EFFECTIVE IN DEESCALATING THE
SITUATION?
OR WOULD THEY HAVE JUST ENDED UP
IN THE LINE OF FIRE AS WELL?
HEAR MANY PEOPLE SAY POLICE
STRICTLY REACT TO CRIME AND DO
NOT PREVENTION CRIME.
BUT I FEEL PUTTING MURDERERS,
CHILD OTHER BUSERS RAPIST GANG
MEMBERS AND PEDOPHILES WHO DO
EXIST IN OUR CITY BEHIND BARS TO
PREVENT THEM FROM REOFFENDING,
IS IN FACT PREVENTING CRIME.
AS A SURVIVOR, OF SEXUAL ABUSE
AS A CHILD AND RAPE AS AN ADULT
I'M SO GLAD THAT EPS CAN GET
THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE OFF OF THE
STREET.
I HEAR MANY SPEAKING TO ENTIRELY
RID EDMONTON OF THE POLICE
FORCE.
I BELIEVE THEY DO SO, BECAUSE
THEY ENJOY A PRIVILEGE OF NOT
KNOWING HOW MUCH VIOLENT CRIME
IS IN OUR CITY.
UNTIL WE LIVE IN A WORLD WITH NO
RAPISTS PEDOPHILES.
GANG AND ANYONE WILLING TO HARM
OTHERS WE REQUIRE POLICE.
UNTIL NO UNDER POLICE OFFICER
HAS TO SIT IN A ROOM WITH A
HEADLESS BODY, WHILE UNDERCOVER
WITH A GANG OR STAY COOL AS HE
FOLLOWS A MAN TO THE GRAVE OF
THAT MAN'S OWN FATHER, WHO HE
MURDERED, WE NEED POLICE.
CRIMES LIKE THESE ARE NOT FEW
AND FAR IN BETWEEN BUT A DAILY
REALITY IN OUR CITY.
ONE OF THE MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE
POLICE HELICOPTER IS TO REDUCE
THE NEED FOR HIGH-SPEED CHASES
THAT ENDANGER, NOT ONLY
CIVILIANS AND POLICE OFFICERS,
BUT THE OFFENDERS THEMSELVES.
IT IS NOT MEANT TO MILITARYARIZE
THE POLICE.
IT IS MEAT TO END AND REDUCE
HIGH-SPEED CHASE-RELATED
FATALITIES AND INJURIES.
AGAIN, I FEEL THOSE ENJOYING THE
PRIVILEGE OF POLICE PROTECTION
SOMETIMES AREN'T AWARE OF THESE
THINGS.
A BUDGET CUT THAT LEAVES EPS
EVEN MORE SHORT STAFFED SCARES
ME.
THE LAST BUDGET CUT AND HIRING
FREEZE THAT EPS WEATHER RESULTED
IN THE DEATH OF AN OFFICER.
AS HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE EPS
TACTICAL UNIT.
A UNIT THAT'S DESIGNED TO HANDLE
SITUATIONS WITH THE LEVEL OF
VIOLENCE AND RISK IS VERY HIGH.
AS HE RESPONDED TO A ROBBERY, AN
ARMED ROBBERY IN A MANDATORY ONE
MAN CAR.
AS THE RESULT MY FATHER CARRIED
HIS CASKET.
WE CANNOT ALLOW PAST MISTAKES TO
BE REPEATED.
HIS DEATH SHOULD NOT BE IN VAIN.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ATTEND THE
FUNERALS OF THOSE WE LOVE,
BECAUSE THEY WERE LEFT
UNPROTECTED.
TOMORROW MARKS THE 30th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE.
POLICE REMEMBER ESO BECAUSE HIS
LIFE MATTERED THANK YOU I YIELD
MY TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
MISS SCHROEDER NEXT IS ROSE EVA
FORD JENKINS.
>> GREAT JOB.
YOU GOT IT THIS TIME.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ROSE EVA JENKINS I
USE SHE HER PRONOUNS AND A WHITE
SETTLER LEAVING IN WARD EIGHT.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
CREATING THE SPACE FOR DIALOGUE
AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS I FEEL
I LEARN SOD MUCH FROM SO MANY
PEOPLE IN THE SPACE OF THESE
MEETINGS AND WANTED TO THANK THE
BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND OTHER
RACIALIZE INDIVIDUALS, WHO
SHARED THEIR STORIES AS WELL AS
BLACK LIVES MATTER EDMONTON FOR
ORGANIZING AROUND THIS.
I WANTED TO SAY HOW INSPIRED I
AM TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE AND
YOUNG PEL ESPECIALLY, WHO ARE
ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING WITH CITY
POLITIC IN THE WAY I'VE NEVER
SEEN BEFORE.
I HOPE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
IN THE FUTURE ARE ABLE TO BE AS
ACCESSIBLE AS THESE LIVE
STREAMED AND CLOSED-CAPTIONED
SESSIONS HAVE BEEN.
I ALSO WANT TO ECHO THE
SENTIMENTS OF MANY BEFORE ME.
I DEMAND THE CITY COUNCIL
IMMEDIATELY REDUCE THE POLICE
BUDGET BY THE MINIMUM OF 30%
AND ELIMINATE THE SOR PROGRAM,
AND ALSO BEGIN COMMUNITY
CONSULTATIONS TO ASK RACIALIZED
FOLKS IN EDMONTON WHAT THEY WANT
THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY SAFETY
TO LOOK LIKE.
ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT I DEMAND
YOU CONSULT IS THE CITY'S
ANTIRACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
MAYOR DON IV AND IN YOUR BLOG
POST IN RESPONSE TO THE BLACK
LIVES MATTER LETTER TO CITY%
COUNCIL YOU MENTIONED YOU WANTED
TO SEE THE IMMEDIATE
REACTIVATION OF THE ANTIRACISM
ADVICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I COMPLETELY AGREE THIS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE NEEDS TO BE REACTED
BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE MAJORBEE
IS INTERTWINED WITH THE
OVERARCHING GOAL OF ABOLISHING
RACIST PRACTICES, I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO SEE IN
TERMS OF THE ANTIRACISM ADVISORY
COMMITTEE WITHIN CITY COUNCIL.
CURRENTLY THE MANDATE OF THE
ANTIRACISM ADVISORY COUNCIL IS
TO MAKE COMMUNITY
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
AND TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND
PREPARE REPORTS ON
COMMUNITY-BASED CONCERNS AND
ISSUES.
BOTH THIS MANDATE AND THE TERMS
OF REFERENCE FOR THIS COMMITTEE
WERE CREATED WITHOUT
CONSULTATION OF THE CURRENT
ANTIRACISM COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
WILL PROVIDE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AN ACTIVE ENOUGH ROLE ON CITY
COUNCIL.
I ALSO SUGGEST THAT THIS MANDATE
AND THE TERMINATION OF REFERENCE
ARE AT VIEW WITH THE CURRENT
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ALTERED TO
REFLECT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES BY
NOW, RACISM IS SYSTEMIC.
IF CITY COUNCIL IS TRULY TAKING
ANTIRACISM ADVISORY SERIOUSLY,
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE NEED
TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE WORK OF
CITY COUNCIL AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO
DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES SUCH
AS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CITY FUNDS
SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO EPS.
ALONG WITH THE ANTIRACISM
ADVISORY A LARGER ROLE, I ALSO
BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE
COMPENSATED FOR THEIR LABOUR.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
CURRENTLY ON THE ANTIRACISM
ADVISORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND
THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THEY ARE NOT
GETTING PAID TO PARTICIPATE IN
THIS COMMITTEE.
I DEMAND THAT MEMBERS FORTUNATE
ANTIRACISM ADVISORY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE BE COMPENSATED FOR
THEIR LABOUR IMMEDIATELY.
EXTRACTING THE LABOUR OF
RACIALIZED PEOPLE WHO SIT ON
THIS COMMITTEE WITHOUT
COMPENSATING THEM IS
UNACCEPTABILITY.
WITHOUT COMPENSATING COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR THEIR TIME, YOU'RE
NOT VALUING THE IMPORTANCE OF
ANTIRACISM WORK AND NOT VALUING
THE INPUT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
WHILE THEY SHARE THEIR DEEPLY
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES WITH
RACISM.
I WANT YOU TO GIVE THE
ANTIRACISM ADVISORY ADVISORY
COMMITTEE THE POWER AND TOOLS TO
CREATE EFFECTIVE CHANGE WITHIN
THE CITY AND BE ABLE TO TAKE
PROACTIVE STEPS TOWARDS MAKING
THE CITY SAFER FOR RACIALIZED
PEOPLE.
I DON'T WANT THE ANTIRACISM
ADVISORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO
SIMPLY EXIST TO MAKE THE CITY
FEEL AS IF IT'S ACCOMPLISHING
ITS QUOTA WITHOU ACTUALLY
THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO
ANALYZE THE STRUCTURES
CONTRIBUTING TO ANTIRACISM.
I WAS VERY CONCERNED TO LEARN
THE ANTIRACISM COMMITTEE HAS NOT
BEEN CONSULTED.
THEY APPRECIATE HAVING THE
MEETINGS WE'RE DOING NOW.
I AM WONDERING WHY YOU ARE
CONSULTING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
IN TERMS OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE
AND HAVING MANY RACIALIZED FOLKS
DO A HUGE AMOUNT OF LABOUR TO
RELAY THEIR TRAUMATIC
EXPERIENCES WITHOUT FIRST
CONSULTING YOUR OWN ANTIRACISM
COMMITTEE.
TO ME THIS POINTS TO A PROBLEM
IN THE WAY THE ANTIRACISM
COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS WITHIN CITY
COUNCIL BUT EXISTS AS A TALKING
POINT TO PROVE HOW INCLUSIVE
CITY COUNCIL IS THAT THIS ISN'T
BEING VALUED AND IMPLEMENTED.
THE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO BE
DIRECTLY IMPLEMENTED AND
PERFORMING A FORMATIVE ROLE FOR
THE CITY.
IF WE ARE TO BELIEVE CITY
COUNCIL IS TAKING ANTIRACISM
CITY SERIOUSLY, THE MEMBERS NEED
TO BE GIVEN A LARGER ROLE IN
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND BE
PROVIDED WITH COMPENSATION.
I DEMAND YOU DEFUND EPS BY 30%
IMMEDIATELY AND THE SRO PROGRAM
AND GIVE THE ANTIRACISM ADVISORY
COMMITTEE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE TO
ADVISE ON SYSTEMIC RACISM WITHIN
THE CITY'S INSTITUTIONS.
AS BLACK LIVES MATTER HAS SAID,
DEFUND THE POLICE AND REINVEST
IN COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND I YIELD
MY TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
NEXT IS KASIA HARDY.
>> HELLO, COUNCILORS.
HELLO, MR. MAYOR.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> Mayor Don Iveson: YES, GO
AHEAD.
>> I'M KASIA HARDY, A
27-YEAR-OLD WOMAN RAISED IN AND
SOON RETURNING TOWARDS
[INDISCERNIBLE] I AM HERE TODAY
TO REJECT TODAY'S MOTION FOR
BEING INSUFFICIENT.
I SPEAK TODAY IN SOLIDARITY WITH
BLACK LIVES MATTER EDMONTON TO
URGE COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY TO
BEGIN TO WORK TOWARDS
ABOLISHMENT, NOT MERELY
DEFUNDING, ABOLISHMENT OF THE
EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE.
THIS PROCESS BEGINS WITH
FREEZING THE 2020 BUDGET FOR THE
POLICE.
IT CONTINUES WITH 30% OF THE
BUDGET BEING IMMEDIATELY
REALLOCATED TO LOCAL INITIATIVES
SUPPORTING PEOPLE FACING MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS AS [INDISCERNIBLE]
STATISTIC.
THIS PROCESS CONCLUDES IN
COMPLETE ABOLISHMENT BEFORE THE
2021 CIVIC ELECTION COMMENCES.
AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY MORNING
WE CAN SEE THE SHORTCOMINGS OF
AN INSTITUTION DESIGNED TO
ISOLATE AND PUNISH INSTEAD OF
PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE CARE AND
RESOURCE THE.
A 40-YEAR-OLD MAN WHOSE NAME HAS
NOT BEEN RELEASED DIED IN POLICE
CUSTODY ON TUESDAY MORNING AFTER
BEING ARRESTED IN SOUTH
EDMONTON.
EPS PROTOCOLS SPECIFICALLY
MENTIONS SECURITY CHECK-INS
EVERY 15 MINUTES AND SO-CALLED
AROUSAL CHECKS EVERY HOUR YET
THIS PERSON WAS FOUND HOURS
LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE
SCENE.
ALL DETAILS MADE PUBLIC POINT TO
THIS PERSON NEEDING MEDICAL
ATTENTION YET THEY WERE
NEGLECTED BY A SYSTEM DESIGNED
TO PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY AND
CORPORATIONS, NOT HUMAN LIFE.
I EAGERLY AWAIT ASIRT'S FINDINGS
IN REGARDS TO THIS THOUGH I AM
NOT CANADA IN THEIR ABILITY TO
HOLD THE POLICE TO ACCOUNT.
THE STATE OF SIMULTANEOUS
SURVEILLANCE AND DISREGARD DOES
NOT STOP AT STREET LEVEL.
FOR SOME IT STARTS EARLY IN LIFE
DUE TO THE SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICER PROGRAM.
I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE BY
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS SIMONE POLO
THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER FROM
MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL St.
JOSEPH'S COMPOSITE WAS ONCE
SUSPENDED AFTER CONDUCTING A
CALLOUS VIOLATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS.
FORMER OFFICER SODER ARRESTED
NINE HUMAN BEINGS OVER A PERIOD
OF HOURS, FORCED THEM INTO AN
OVERCROWDED VAN, DROVE THEM
ACROSS THE CITY TO DEPOSIT THEM
INTO A PARKING LOT.
TO TEACH WHAT LESSON AND SERVE
WHAT PURPOSE OTHER THAN A CRUEL
POWER TRIP.
THIS INCIDENT BEARS HORRIFYING
RESEMBLANCE TO THE STARLIGHT
TOURS.
AFTER THE SHAMEFUL INCIDENTS
POLICE ADMINISTRATION SOUGHT TO
HAVE HIM REASSIGNED TO HIGH
SCHOOLS PULL OF VULNERABLE
TEENAGERS, TO USE TACTICS LIKE
SOLICITING CIGARETTES AND USING
BAIT PHONES TO ENTRAP STUDENTS.
THIS SHOULD RAISE SERIOUS
QUESTIONS NOT ONLY IN REGARDS TO
THE POLICE SERVICES EFFICIENCY
WITHHOLDING OFFICERS TO ACCOUNT
BUT ALSO THE SRO PROGRAM AS A
PUNITIVE MEASURE FOR ITS MOST
UNTRUSTWORTHY MEMBERS.
DESPITE THESE LOOMING QUESTIONS,
TRUSTEES FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
BOARD VOTED YESTERDAY TO
CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM.
TRUSTEE JOHNER ASSERTED THE
PROGRAM WAS NEEDED BECAUSE
REFEREE STUDENTS "ONLY KNOW
VIOLENCE" AND THAT OTHER, WHITE,
STUDENTS NEED TO BE SAFE AND
PROTECTED AT SCHOOL.
INCOUNCIL WAS NOT INVOLVED THIS
THAT DISCUSSION BUT I HOPE THEY
SHARE MY DISGUST WITH THIS%
RACIST AND IGNORANT VIEWPOINT
HELD BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEE.
I HOPE COUNCIL WILL DO THEIR
PART TO DISCONTINUE THAT HARMFUL
PROGRAM.
THAT NO ONE IN POWER SEEMS TO
KNOW MUCH ABOUT DESPITE
EXHAUSTIVE EFFORTS OF THOSE TO
RAISE AWARENESS.
I WOULD URGE THE COUNCILORS THAT
HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT POSITIVE
INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE TO
CONSIDER THAT AS HIGHLY VISIBLE
AND INFLUENTIAL PUBLIC FIGURES
THEY'RE EXPERIENCE WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT IS FOR THE
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WHOLE.
A TRUER PICTURE CAN BE SEEN IN
THREATS BY POLICE
ADMINISTRATIONS WARNING THEIR
LAST IN, FIRST OUT CONTRACTS
WILL SPELL DISASTER HER FUNDING
IS K I REFER TO DALE MCPHEE'S
AGGRESSIVE HIRING OF DIVERSITY
AMONG OTHER CLAIMS TO SOCIAL
OUTREACH.
THIS STRIKES ME AS THE SERVICE
HOLDING THESE PALTRY SOCIAL
PROGRAMS UP AS WELL AS THE NEW
RECRUITS AS A SHIELD TO DISGUISE
THE BRUTAL NATURE OF THEIR
INSTITUTION.
NO AMOUNT OF LIP SERVICE
TRAINING, REGULATION, OR BODY
CAMS WILL FIX THE FACT THAT
POLICING IN THIS COUNTRY IS
BUILT ON A ROTTEN COLONIAL
FOUNDATION.
LET ME BE CLEAR HERE AS WELL
THAT WILL MY PREFERENCE IS NOT
FOR PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES
OR PROVINCIALLY SANCTIONED
VOLUNTEER MILITIAS TO FILL THE
POWER VACUUM.
INSTEAD, I INVITE COUNCIL TO
JOIN ME IN IMAGINING A BETTER
WORLD WITH COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH
CARE, SOCIAL HOUSING, FOOD
SECURITY, AND FAIR FREE TRANSIT.
A WORLD FINALLY FREE OF POLICE
MADE POSSIBLE BY RESPONSIBLE USE
OF TAX DOLLARS.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS SOPHIE PIO.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS SOPHIE P.E.I.
I USE [INDISCERNIBLE] PRONOUNCE.
I'M CALLING FOR DEFUNDING AND
ABOLITION OF EPS.
A FEW YEARS AGO MY FRIENDS AND I
WERE DRIVING BACK FROM
VOLUNTEERING AT A QUEER YOUTH
SUMMER CAMP ON 63 AVENUE HEADING
EAST.
WE NOTICED A YOUNG CHILD WALKING
IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY SHOES ON.
WE PULLED OVER TO GO TO HIM.
HE WAS NOT VERBAL AND WE HAD NO
IDEA WHAT TO DO.
WE NOTICED AN EPS VEHICLE GOING
BY SO WE WAVED IT DOWN DUE TO
THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION.
EVENTUALLY A WOMAN KALE RUNNING
DOWN THE STREET BECAUSE IT WAS
HER SON.
SHE TOLD US HE OFTEN WANDERS BUT
USUALLY GOES THE OTHER
DIRECTION.
DURING THIS I NOTICED SHE HAD A
BLACK EYE.
AS THE POLICE OFFICER TOOK THE
CHILD AND MOTHER INTO THE CAR TO
TAKE THEM HOME, I PULLED HIM
ASIDE AND TOLD HIM ABOUT HER
BLACK EYE.
HE LOOKE DOWN AT ME, SMIRKS,
AND SARCASTICALLY SAID SURE, AND
WALKED AWAY N THAT MOMENT ALL I
COULD THINK OF WAS AN INDIGENOUS
WOMAN'S LIFE NOT EVEN WORTH
INTENDING TO CARE ABOUT?
IN THE END WE MADE SURE THEY GOT
HOME SAFE AND CAME IN WITH PLANS
TO CHECK IN AND THE COP WOULD
ARREST ANYONE IF HE STOOK THE
CHILD INTO CUSTODY AND VIOLENCE
OCCURRED.
AFTERWARDS WE CALLED ONE OF OUR
[INDISCERNIBLE] TO DEBRIEF THE
SITUATION BECAUSE WE WERE SHAKEN
BY THE WHOLE THING.
THERE WAS NO WAY TO GUARANTEE
THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE
MOTHER AND CHILD.
THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE WE COULD
OFFER THEM.
NO ADEQUATE INTERVENTION THAT
EXISTED.
WHAT IF WE HAD OPTIONS TO CALL
TO ACTUALLY GET PEOPLE THE HELP
THEY NEEDED RATHER THAN TAKING
THE CHANCE ON THE POLICE WHO ARE
KNOWN TO ESCALATE AND BE VIOLENT
ESPECIALLY WITH BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.
IN THE EIGHT YEARS I LIVED IN
HEMMED I HAVE NEVER SEEN EPS
INTERACT WITH ANY MARGINALIZED
PEOPLE POSITIVELY UNLESS IT'S
FOR A PHOTO OP TO LOOK GOOD TO
THE PUBLIC TO JUSTIFY THEIR
EXISTENCE.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY FOR THE
[INDISCERNIBLE] BLACK,
INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOUR,
AND HOUSELESS AND MENTALLY ILL.
THE VISION OF EPS AS PORTRAYED
IN THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, PHOTO
OPS, NEWSPAPERS, IS NOT THE EPS
THAT EXISTS ON THE STREET.
I AM SURE YOU HEARD THE
COUNTLESS STORIES THAT HAVE
SHOWN THAT TRUTH.
WE ARE SEEING PROTESTS
INTERNATIONALLY AND ON SUCH A
LARGE SCALE BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL
OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE
INDISPUTABILITY VIDEO EVIDENCE.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT FROM THE
HORRENDOUS MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD TO THE DASH-CAM VIDEO
CHIEF ALAN ADAM OF ATHABASCA
CHIPEWYAN FIRST NATION BEING
BEATEN Y THE RCMP.
THERE'S NO DENYING THE VAST
AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT IS
SHOWING POLICE VIOLENCE ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY IGNORANT
TO THINK THAT FOR SOME REASON
EDMONTON POLICE HAVE SOMEHOW
EXEMPT FROM THIS GLOBAL
PHENOMENON.
IN FACT WE HAVE HEARD MANY
FIRSTHANDED ACCOUNTS AND SEEN
VIDEOS THAT SHOW EPS IS JUST AS
CAPABLE OF VIOLENCE AND RACISM.
RIGHT NOW THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT
IN THE WORLD.
WE ARE NOW HAVING THESE SERIOUS
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ANTI-BLACK
RACISM AND WHETHER THE POLICE
ARE NEEDED.
DISCUSSION THAT IS WERE WIDELY
TABOO EVEN A FEW MONTHS AGO.
WE SEE THAT THE POLICE SYSTEM
ISN'T BROKEN BECAUSE IT'S
FUNCTIONING JUST AS VIOLENTLY AS
IT WAS INTENDED TO.
IT FUNCTIONS LIKE THIS EVEN IF
WE HAVE BLACK, INDIGENOUS,
QUEER, FEMALE, ET CETERA,
OFFICERS.
WE NOW SEE THE POLICE FOR WHAT
THEY REALLY ARE.
EPS SERVES TO MAINTAIN THE
STATUS QUO.
THEY CARE MORE ABOUT REMOVE THE
VISIBILITY OF [INDISCERNIBLE]
PEOPLE IN THE STREETS THAN HELP
THEM.
THEY REACT WITH VIOLENCE TO
THOSE WHO ARE MENTALLY ILL.
SEEING THEM AS A THREAT TO
SOCIETY RATHER THAN THOSE
DESERVING OF SUPPORT.
THEY PROTECT PRIVATE PORT OVER
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS LIVES,
RETRAUMATIZE SEXUAL ABUSE SUR
RIVERS RATHER THAN GETTING THEM
SUPPORT F THEY'RE NOT SERVING
THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND
ONLY EXIST TO MAINTAIN THE
COMFORT OF THOSE IN POWER, WHAT
FUNCTION DO THEY EVEN SERVE FOR
THE PUBLIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY?
WHAT IS JUSTICE UNDER THIS
SYSTEM?
LASTLY I WANT TO SEE IT'S
DEFINITELY POLICY TO DEFUND AND
ABOLISH THE POLICE AND FIND
SERVICES THAT SERVE THE PUBLIC
GOOD.
IT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU,
EDMONTON CITY COUNCIL, ARE THE
POLITICIANS THAT ARE GRANTED
THAT POUR.
YOU CAN GO WITH THE WAVE OF
CHANGE THAT HAS COME OR YOU CAN
GO -- TRY TO GO AGAINST IT WITH
USELESS REFORMS THAT NEVER
AMOUNT TO ANY CHANGE.
AS WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME
AGAIN EVERYWHERE.
HISTORY HAS SHOWN YOU WANT TO BE
ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE.
I DO NOT WANT FOR US TO WAIT
UNTIL SOMEONE IN THE CITY DIES
IN ORDER TO HAVE CHANGE.
AND TO A CERTAIN SPEAKER BEFORE
ME, THE POLICE PROTECT YOU
BECAUSE YOU'RE WHITE.
THAT IS WHY YOU FEEL SAFE.%
I YIELD MY TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
TAMAR DINAR IS NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU, MAY,
COUNCILORS, AND FELLOW
PANELISTS.
MY NAME IS TAMAR DINAR, MY
PRONOUNCE
PRONOUNCE ARE SHE/HER.
I'M A SOCIAL WORKER.
I'M SPEAKING IN SOLIDARITY WITH
BLACK LIVES MATTER EDMONTON
BECAUSE I SUPPORT THE MOTION AND
IMPLORE YOU TO GO FARTHER TO
DEFUND THE POLICE AND USE THOSE
FUNDS TO CREATE A TRULY SAFE
CITY.
I HAVE WORKED IN EDMONTON AND
CALGARY AT NONPROFITS FOR OVER
TEN YEARS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT, CHILD AND YOUTH,
FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
AND SEXUAL HEALTH AND SEXUAL
VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
MY FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO EDMONTON
FROM SOUTH AFRICA IN 1989.
I WAS 4½ YEARS OLD.
WHEN WE ARRIVED IN CANADA
APARTHEID STILL EXISTED IN SOUTH
AFRICA, NELSON MANDELA WAS YET
TO BE RELEASED.
I DO NOT KNOW A TIME IN MY LIFE
WHERE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT RACISM
WAS, THAT IT WAS SO MUCH MORE
THAN SLURS AND HATRED.
AS A CHILD I UNDERSTOOD THAT IT
HAD TO BE SOMETHING BIGGER.
IT WAS SOMETHING SO MUCH DEEPER
THAT IT WAS ABOUT POWER,
GOVERNMENTS, POLICIES, AND LAWS.
I UNDERSTOOD THAT POLICIES,
GOVERNMENTS, AND SYSTEMS LIKE
POLICING CREATES RACISM AND
ALLOWS IT TO THRIVE.
WE ARE ALL HERE NOW AS ADULTS
TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THIS
WORLD.
WHILE SOME TRY TO DENY SYSTEMIC
RACISM EXISTS HERE, WE KNOW THAT
WHEN WE STOP BEING AFRAID TO SEE
THE TRUTH, STEM RACISM IS
STARING US ALL IN THE FACE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK ANY
FARTHER THAN MY STORY.
WE THINK OF APARTHEID AS AWFUL,
AN UNDENIAL COMPETITION OF
SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT HAPPENED
FAR AWAY.
I HAVE TO BREAK IT TO YOU THEY
MODELLED APARTHEID OFF OF THE
INDIAN
INDIAN ACT.@TOWNSHIPS OFF THE RE
SYSTEM.
THEY COPIED OUR PAST SYSTEM.
AND WHO ENFORCES THOSE SYSTEMS?
WHO IS CENTRAL TO THESE RACIST
SYSTEMS THRIVING?
THE POLICE.
A LOT NEEDS TO CHANGE, AND WHAT
I ASK OF YOU NOW IS TO IMAGINE A
DIFFERENT WORLD.
I IMPLORE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE
VOICES HERE WHO ARE DOING THAT.
YES, WHITE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS
SPOKEN AND WHITE POLITICIANS
HAVE ADVOCATED TO MAINTAIN THE
STATUS QUO.
PEOPLE LIKE KERRY DIOTTE ASKING
US TO GET OVER A MURDER THAT
HAPPENED LESS THAN TWO MONTHS
AGO WITH ALREADY MORE HAPPENING
SINCE?
YOU CAN'T GET OVER SOMETHING
THAT IS STILL HAPPENING.
YOU NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING AND
STOP IT FROM HAPPENING.
AS ELECT OFFICIALS YOUR ROLE IS
TO IMAGINE A BETTER CITY, A
BETTER WORLD.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS DEFUND,
DIVEST, AND ABOLISH THE POLICE,
LIKE MANY PEOPLE YOU MAY FREEZE
UP.
THE STATUS QUO YOU KNOW IS BEING
CHALLENGED.
I ASK YOU TO NOT FREEZE UP AND
SHUT DOWN BUT TO START IMAGINING
A WORLD WHERE WE REALLOCATE
POLICE FUNDING TOWARDS COMMUNITY
ACTION AND ADVOCACY THAT
ACTUALLY MAKES US SAFE.
A WORLD WHERE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES HAVE ALL THE FUNDING
THEY NEED, WHERE POVERTY AND
SUBSTANCE USE ARE NOT
CRIMINALIZED, WHERE PEOPLE IN
UNIFORMS DO NOT HAVE ARBITRARY
POWER OVER BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE, WHERE PEOPLE WITHOUT
MONEY DO NOT GET FINED HUNDREDS
OF DOLLARS FOR TRYING TO GET
HOME ON THE BUS OR LRT.
WHERE WE DON'T SPEND MONEY TO
BUY NEW CARS, BIKES, AND GUNS
FOR POLICE BUT INSTEAD WE USE IT
TO PREVENT SEXUAL AND
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
AS A SOCIAL WORKER WORKING IN
THE INNER CITY, I SAW THE
RESIDENTS ENDURING ONGOING
GENTRIFICATION, BEING PUSHED OUT
BUT NOT BEING HOUSED.
I SAW PEOPLE CONSTANTLY BEING
CRIMINALIZED FOR BEING POOR, FOR
ENGAGING IN SEX WORK, FOR USING
SUBSTANCES.
THE PROGRAMS EXIST TO SUPPORT
PEOPLE AND MORE NEED TO BE
DEVELOPED BUT THEY DON'T HAVE
THE FUNDING.
THIS IS INEXCUSABLE WHEN POLICE
GET MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR.
'BRAM KENDY SAYS RACISM IS A
POWERFUL COLLECTION OF POLICIES
THAT LEAD TO RACIAL INEQUITY AND
ARE SUBSTANTIATED BY RACIST
IDEAS.
ANTIRACISM IS A POWERFUL
COLLECTION OF ANTIRACIST
POLICIES THAT LEAD TO RACIAL
EQUITY AND ARE SUBSTANTIATED BY
ANTIRACIST IDEAS.
DIVESTING FROM POLICE AND INTO
COMMUNITY IS AN EXAMPLE OF
ANTIRACIST POLICY.
WILL YOU CHOOSE ANTIRACISM?
DISMANTLING SYSTEMIC RACISM IS
GOING TO TAKE MANY STEPS.
VOTING ON THIS MOTION TO DEFUND
THE POLICE WILL MAKE FUNDS
AVAILABLE TO CREATE SAFETY IN
OUR COMMUNITIES FOR ALL, NOT
JUST FOR SOME.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT IS A
CONCRETE COMMITMENT FROM COUNCIL
TOWARDS ANTIRACISM AND
DISMANTLING A SYSTEM THAT IS
HARMING BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND
PEOPLE OF COLOUR DAILY.
YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.
START HERE AND START NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
IRINA LANGWIDER.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU I'M SPEAKING AS A
CITIZEN, TAXPAYER, AND MOTHER.
WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AROUND THE
WORLD AND IN OUR OWN CITY IS NOT
ONLY DISTURBING BUT SCARY.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH OVER THE
LAST FEW WEEKS THE CONVERSATION
SHIFTED FROM RACISM AND WHETHER
IT EXISTS IN OUR SOCIETY TO
FUNDING CUTS AND ABOLISHING OF
POLICE SERVICES.
I'D LIKE TO BRING THE
CONVERSATION BACK TO WHERE IT
STARTED, RACISM.
UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES EXIST IN
OUR SOCIETY.
IT'S EVERYWHERE.
AND NOT SINGLE RACE IS EXCEPT
FROM IT.
MY PERSONAL STORY SENIOR IS A
TESTMENT TO THAT.
A BOY IN A SCHOOL BUS RIDE HOME
TOLD MY DAUGHTER SHE'S UGLY
BECAUSE OF HER SKIN COLOUR.
YOU MAY LOOK AT ME AND SAY,
SHE'S WHITE, SHE GREW UP ENTITLE
AND HAD PRIVILEGED THAT.
COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE
TRUTH T I IMMIGRATED TO CANADA
15 YEARS FROM RUSSIA AND TODAY
MY CHILDREN ATTEND A SCHOOL
WHERE THEY ARE MINORITY BASED ON
THEIR RACE, HERITAGE, AND SKIN
COLOUR.
MY WHITE FRIENDS HAVE BEEN
CALLED WHITE TRASH.
MY POLICE FRIENDS HAVE BEEN
CALLED PIGS.
THESE FEW EXAMPLES DID NOT MAKE
ME LOSE FAITH IN HUMANITY NOR
FOR ME TO START PAINTING ALL
PEOPLE WITH THE SAME RACIST
BRUSH.
YOU SEE THE PROBLEM OF TODAY'S
SOCIETY IS NOT RACISM.
IT'S NOT LACK OF DIVERSITY.
IT'S FEAR AND INABILITY TO
ADDRESS AND DEAL WITH THE
PROBLEM AT HAND.
I'M IN THE CONVERSATION WENT
FROM NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY
BASED ON MY SKIN TONE TO HOW I
CAN RIDE A BUS FOR FREE, LIVE IN
A SUBSIDIZED HOUSE AND INJECT
DRUGS SAFELY.
INSTEAD WE MUST FOCUS ON WHAT WE
SHOULD AND CAN DO TO CHANGE THE
SYSTEM TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY
AND ULTIMATELY HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR
MISCONDUCT.
SYSTEMIC ISSUES CALL FOR
SYSTEMIC CHANGES.
MOVING ON TO THE TOPIC OF
FUNDING, EVERY ORGANIZATION CAN
OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND
EFFICIENTLY AND BRING TO THE
TABLE ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO TACKLE
SOME OF THESE ISSUES
COLLECTIVELY MAY NOT ONLY BE
EFFICIENCY BUT A VIABLE
SOLUTION.
I DID WATCH MCPHEE'S ADDRESS
FOLLOWED BY Q AND A AND THOUGHT
HE DID AN EXCELLENT WORK
ARTICULATING THE SIGNIFICANT
WORK EPS HAS DONE IN THE LAST 15
MONTHS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN
THEN AND NOW T BOILS DOWN TO
CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE NOT DRIVEN
BY FUND BEING.
TAKE AWAY THE FUNDING AND IT
WILL TAKE LONGER FOR POLICE TO
RESPOND, INVESTIGATIONS TO BE
COMPLETED.
NOW TELL THAT MOTHER WHOSE CHILD
HAS JUST BEEN ABDUCT OR SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED IT WILL POLICE EXTRA
TIME TO LOCATE THE CHILD OR
SUSPECT BECAUSE FUNDING HAS BEEN
DIVERTED TO PROGRAMS THAT SHOULD
HAVE SUPPOSEDLY PREVENTED THAT
INCIDENT FROM HAPPENING IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
THE PROPOSED DEFUND THE POLICE
ACTION PLAN AND SUBSEQUENT
REQUESTS TO ABOLISH THE POLICE
SERVICES ALL TOGETHER CANNOT BE
DESCRIBED OTHER THAN
IRRESPONSIBLE AND DANGEROUS.
IF SOMEONE BREAKS INTO MY HOUSE
WITH A KNIFE IN THEIR HANDS I'M
IS THERE TO HELP ME CUT THERSON-
CAKE.
IF I CALL A SOCIAL WORKER TO
CALM THE SITUATION DOWN IS NOT
GOING TO WORK EITHER BECAUSE
SOCIAL WORKER IS NOT GOING TO
PLACE THEMSELVES AT RISK OF
BEING IN PHYSICAL DANGER SO THEY
WILL NEED TO CALL POLICE FOR
THEIR OWN PROTECTION.
BUT WHO WOULD PROVIDE SUCH
PROTECTION IF THERE'S NO POLICE?
LET'S NOT FORGET THAT WE LIVE IN
A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY AND
DEMOCRACY IS A VOICE OF
MAJORITY.
THAT'S WHY CANADIANS DIDN'T GET
RID OF OUR PRIME MINISTER AS A
RESULT OF THE BLACKFACE
INCIDENT.
NOR DID THE CITIZENS OF EDMONTON
DISMISS THIS VERY COUNCIL
BECAUSE OF THE WORK BY
HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION
ALLEGATION THAT IS SURFACED LAST
YEAR.
WE'VE SEEN NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF
PRODUCERS CRIMINALS SEXUAL
BEHAVIOUR YET WE HAVEN'T SEEN TV
OR MOVIE INDUSTRY COLLAPSE AS A
RESULT OF T INSTEAD THOSE
INDIVIDUAL ISSUES WERE BROUGHT
TO PUBLIC LIGHT, INVESTIGATED
AND ACTED UPON.
THIS IS WHAT TRANSPARENCY,
DEMOCRACY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS
AND CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF WE
ALL WORK TOGETHER TO FIND
SOLUTIONS.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR OPENED A
PANDORA'S BOX FOR VARIOUS
NONPROFITS IN SUPPORT OF EPS
JUST A MONTH AGO ALL OF A
SUGGESTED FIGHTING TO GET A
SLICE OF A FINANCIAL PIE SO THEY
CAN ADVANCE THEIR OWN
ORGANIZATIONS AT THE DETRIMENT
OF IMPORTANT POLICE WORK BEING
DONE EVERY DAY IN OUR CITY.
THIS IS PARADOXAL AS THEIR OWN
COMMENTS SUGGEST, "THE DEVALUE
AND RELIANCE ON PARTNERSHIPS
WITH EPS.
IF I WERE TO QUOTE PRESIDENT OF
YES.
THE REACH ORGANIZATION DEFINES
SUCCESS AS DEPENDENT ON
COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT,
EPS, AND COMMUNITY.
THE PRESIDENT OF AFRICAN
CANADIAN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
COUNCIL DESCRIBED WORDS THAT
CAME OUT FROM PARTNERSHIP WITH
EPS AS ASTONISHING.
I COULDN'T STATE IT BETTER THAN
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
ELIZABETH FRY SOCIETY OF
EDMONTON:  WE NEED LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING.
I AGREE.
THERE ARE ALL THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE BRINGING
ENORMOUS VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY
AND FUNDING GAPS MUST BE
HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE AVENUE
THAT SHOULD EVEN HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED TO BE TAKEN.
MILTON FREED UNANIMOUS ONCE SAID
"MOST ECONOMIC FALLACIES DRIVE
FROM THE TENDENCY TO ASSUME
THERE'S A FIXED PIE THAT ONE
PARTY CAN GAIN ONLY AT THE
EXPENSE OF ANOTHER.
IN OTHER TERMS, INSTEAD OF
DIVESTING WE NEED TO CONTINUE
INVESTING IN COORDINATED
COLLABORATION.
THE ISSUE OF RACISM AND MISUSE
OF FORCE SHOULD NOT BE TERMED
INTO A BUDGET EXERCISE.
THEREFORE I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE
MOTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU
TO ALL OF OUR PANELISTS HERE
THIS MORNING.
I WILL JUST CHECK NOW WITH
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS
STARTING WITH COUNCILOR
McKEEN.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
THANKS, MR. MAYOR.
I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
POWERFUL SUBMISSIONS THIS
MORNING.
EACH PANEL HAS BROUGHT SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES,
POWERFULFULLY, AND I CAN ONLY
SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT I KNOW MY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I KNOW
THAT WE ARE ALL LISTENING AND
LEARNING AND WANT TO DO IT BEST
FOR YOU AND FOR THE CITIZENS.
I WANTED TO HONE IN ON ONE
THING, AND I IF JONAH ELKI IS
STILL WITH US BECAUSE I'M
FASCINATED, HAVE LONG BEEN
FASCINATED, WITH RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE AS AN INFORMAL WAY, A
COMMUNITY-BASED WAY TO DEAL WITH
ACCOUNTABILITY.
ARE YOU STILL WITH US?
>> I AM.
>> THANK YOU.
SO TELL ME, YOU'RE INVOLVED IN
SOME RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORK IN
YOUR WORK?
>> I WAS.
I HAVE SINCE MOVED ON, BUT I WAS
WORKING DOING COURT DIVERSION
PROGRAMS WHO WORK WITH YOUTH WHO
HAVE JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT.
>> RIGHT, YEAH.
I WAS SURPRISED -- I THINK IT
WAS LAST WINTER I THOUGHT -- I'D
WRITTEN ABOUT RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE A NUMBER OF TIMES DURING
MY JOURNALISM CAREER, AND I
THOUGHT IT HAD FALLEN OFF THE
FACE OF THE EARTH.
BUT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A LARGE
BODY OF THOSE INVOLVED WITH IT
AT A MEETING THAT I WAS INVITED
TO.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE IT'S STILL
AROUND.
YOU MIGHT NOT BE SURPRISED TO
HEAR THAT IT WAS RESEARCH
INVESTIGATIVE PIECE DONE YEARS
AGO THAT SHOWED THAT YOUTH CRIME
WASN'T REALLY UP, BUT WHAT HAD
HAPPENED WAS SOCIETY DEMANDED
MORE FORMAL DEALINGS WITH KIDS,
YOUTH, THAT HAD DONE SOMETHING
WRONG.
IN THE PAST, THE SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL MIGHT HAVE REQUIRED
THE KID TO SPEND HIS LUNCH HOURS
CLEANING THE GRAFFITI OFF THE
SCHOOL, AND NOWADAYS WHAT
STARTED TO HAPPEN IS THEY'D GET
CHARGED.
AND THAT MAY BE -- DO YOU SEE
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE,
COMMUNITY-LED RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE, AS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT
WE CAN SHIFT AWAY FROM CRIMINAL
JUSTICE LAW AND ORDER RESPONSES?
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT RESTORATIVE AND
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE, WHICH IS
ANOTHER BRANCH OF
COMMUNITY-BASED JUSTICE THAT IS
CURRENTLY BEING USED, ARE
PRIMARILY USED BY COMMUNITIES
THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE
POLICE.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THESE
PROBLEMS, PEOPLE ARE OH, WHY
DON'T THESE COMMUNITIES JUST
CALL THE POLICE.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE UNDOCUMENTED OR
THE POLICE HAVE NEVER RESPECTED
YOU OR I KNOW A YOUNG PERSON WHO
CALLED THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY
WERE IN DISTRESS AND THE POLICE
ARRESTED THEIR AUNT BECAUSE SHE
LOOKED LIKE ANOTHER INDIGENOUS
WOMAN WHO THEY HAD A WARRANT OUT
FOR.
RIGHT.
SO IN COMMUNITY, THESE
RESTORATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE
JUSTICE PROGRAMS ARE USEFUL
BECAUSE IT INVOLVES A
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
COMMUNITY THAT SURROUNDS THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED AND
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THE
HARM.
THE PROBLEM WITH HAVING POLICE
INVOLVED IN THIS IS THAT POLICE
AREN'T REALLY MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITIES WHERE THE HARM IS
OCCURRING.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, HAVING
A POLICE PRESENCE AROUND THESE
STRUCTURES WILL SORT OF RENDER
THEM USELESS BECAUSE IT
ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO NOT TAKE
ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH IS THE
POINT OF THESE RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE PROCEDURES TO BEGIN
WITH.
SO PEOPLE CAN FEEL SAFE AND THEY
KNOW THAT THEY WON'T BE
EXCOMMUNICATED IF THEY'VE DONE
SOMETHING WRONG.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I SAW THE
HEALING OCCUR IN SOME PRETTY
MAJOR CRIME INCIDENTS, ACTUALLY,
IN ONE INVOLVING A HOMICIDE.
AND THERE WAS HEALING IN THE
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICE
WHERE THE ARGUMENT WAS IF YOU GO
THROUGH THE FORM OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE PROCEDURE, THERE IS FAR
LESS HEALING.
AND THERE'S DETACHMENT FROM
ACCOUNTABILITY IN SOME WAYS TOO.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS HARD
JUSTICE.
IT IS HARD.
AND I'M A BIG FAN OF IT, AND MY
COMMITTEE IS TO TRY TO BRING AN
AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION TO
GET SOME FURTHER INVESTIGATION
OF THAT AND HOW WE COULD
ENCOURAGE EDMONTON TO REPLACE.
I'M GOING TO WORK ON DOING THAT.
I THINK CRIMINALIZATION OF
POVERTY P MENTAL ILLNESS, AND
ADDICTION, WE COULD DO BETTER
WITH ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE
PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOUR AND
BLACK PEOPLE AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE, INCLUDED IN THAT BECAUSE
OUR SYSTEMS ARE FAILING A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S A
CONTROVERSIAL THING TO SAY.
>> SORRY, CAN I POINT OUT ONE
THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY
CRUCIAL?
IT'S OKAY IF IT'S A NO.
>> NO, GO AHEAD.
>> SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING A
PROBLEM IN YOUTH RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE WHERE THE COURT, BECAUSE
THE COURT IS INCREASINGLY
CONSERVATIVE RIGHT NOW, IS NOT
DIVERTING YOUTH TO OUR PROGRAMS
ANYMORE.
SO PROGRAMS WHO DO RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE WITH YOUTH AREN'T
GETTING THE REFERRALS THEY USED
TO GET UNDER NOTLEY'S GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE THE COURTS ARE SHIFTING
MORE CONSERVATIVE.
I WORRY THAT IN A SYSTEM WHERE
POLICE ARE IN CHARGE OF DECIDING
WHICH CASES GO TO COMMUNITY
DIVERSION AND WHICH CASES GO TO
THE COURT AND THROUGH THE FORMAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHAT WILL HAPPEN
IS THE POLICE JUST WON'T DIVERT
PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'LL SEE,
ESPECIALLY RACIALIZED PEOPLE, AS
BEING DANGEROUS ENOUGH OR
CHRONICALLY CRIMINAL OR WHATEVER
LANGUAGE THEY USE.
I DON'T LISTEN TO THEM THAT
MUCH.
BUT THOSE PEOPLE WILL GET SENT
TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BE
DEALT WITH BECAUSE THEY ARE
SERIOUS OFFENDERS RATHER THAN
PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST STRUGGLING
AND HAVE HAD LIVES THAT ARE
REALLY DIFFICULT.
>> I HOPE THE PEOPLE WHO PRESENT
TO US DURING THESE PANELS ARE
ALSO PRESENTING TO THE PREMIER'S
OFFICE, THE JUSTICE MINISTER'S
OFFICE, AND THE SOLICITOR
GENERAL'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JONAH.
THANKS TO EVERYONE.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
I HAVE SO FAR COUNCILOR
PAQUETTE, COUNCILOR BACCA, AND
COUNCILOR HENDERSON.
COUNCILOR PAQUETTE, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PANELISTS.
I WISH I COULD ASK YOU ALL
QUESTIONS BUT WE'RE LIMITED TO
ONE ROUND OF 5 MINUTES EACH.
SO PERHAPS I'LL GO TO TAMAR
DINAR SINCE YOU GREW UP IN
AWARENESS OF TWO UPBRINGING
SYSTEMS.
MY QUESTION IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFICULT BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO
GET YOUR TAKE AND YOUR
PERSPECTIVE ON THE IDEA THAT
PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM THE
CURRENT SYSTEM CAN HEAR ALL OF
THESE STORIES OF PAIN, OF
INEQUALITY, AND BEING
MARGINALIZED AND THEY CAN HEAR
THE HISTORY OF HOW THIS ALL CAME
TO BE.
BUT IT DOESN'T LAND, AND IT
DOESN'T INFORM THEIR PERSPECTIVE
IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN
EXPAND ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
IF IF I HAVE THE ANSWER FOR
THAT, I THINK WE'D LIVE IN A
VERY DIFFERENT WORLD.
WHY IS IT THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN
HEAR THE PAIN AND THE HARM
CAUSED TO OTHERS BY UNSYSTEMIC
INEQUITY AND RACISM AND WANT TO
CHANGE THAT AND DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT AND SEE THE THROUGH
LINE AND THAT OTHER PEOPLE
CAN'T.
AND I THINK, IF I CAN TALK ABOUT
ADRAM KENDI AGAIN, HE HAS AN
ANALOGY THAT SAYS WHITE
SUPREMACY IS RAINING ON US ALL
THE TIME.
IT'S LIKE THE RAIN THAT
SURROUNDS US, FALLING ON US, AND
WE'RE ALL WET.
AND FOR SOME OF US, WE CAN
RECOGNIZE THAT FOR WET AND THAT
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHITE
SUPREMACY DOES IS THAT FOR SO
MANY PEOPLE THEY JUST DENY THAT
THEY'RE EVEN WET.
THEY SAY NO, THIS ISN'T
HAPPENING.
I'M NOT EVEN WET.
WHEN WE ARE.
AND THAT WE NEED TO DO IS -- AND
HE TALKS ABOUT THAT WE NEED TO
JUST ASK CAN I HAVE AN UMBRELLA,
HOW CAN I HELP IN THIS
SITUATION, HOW CAN I STOP THIS
FROM HAPPENING, HOW CAN I SEE
WHAT'S HAPPENING AND LISTEN TO
YOU AND UNDERSTAND.
AND I THINK PART OF WHAT HAPPENS
IS THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN
SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
DURING APARTHEID WHICH WE CAN
LOOK BACK TO AND WITHOUT A DOUBT
SAY THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING
WRONG THAT WAS HAPPENING.
WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SEE
THAT.
CANADA HAS THE ONLY REMAINING
RACIST POLICY, THE INDIAN INDIAS
THE ONLY NAMED POLICY, THAT
TALKS ABOUT PEOPLE BASED ON
THEIR RACE.
SO APARTHEID ENDED.
OUR SYSTEM HAS NOT ENDED IN
CANADA.
SO I THINK THAT IT IS VERY HARD
TO SEE THINGS WHILE THEY WERE
HAPPENING JUST LIKE WHITE PEOPLE
DIDN'T SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING
DURING APARTHEID.
IT IS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE RIGHT
NOW TO SEE THAT THIS IS
HAPPENING.
AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION IS HOW CAN WE GET
PEOPLE, LIKE NAT ASHA SAID, FIND
PEOPLE YOU CAN TALK TO, ABOUT
RACISM, WHITENESS, YOUR WHITE
FRAGILITY SO THAT WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD AND THAT WE CAN GET MORE
PEOPLE TO SEE THAT CHANGE NEEDS
TO HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST TO FOLLOW UP, A LOT OF
PEOPLE FEEL THAT THE SYSTEM AS
IT IS SHOULD BE PROTECTING THE
MAJORITY BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF
FOLKS IN EDMONTON TEND TO BE OF
A PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC AND
BENEFITS THEM AND SO WHY CAN'T
EVERYONE ELSE JUST PICK
THEMSELVES UP AND TRANSFORM
THEIR LIVES IN ORDER TO BECOME
MORE LIKE THAT AND FIT INTO
THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THEN THEY
TOO WOULD BE PROTECTED.
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S REALLY
INTERESTING, AND I THINK THAT'S
KIND OF THIS ASSIMILATION WAY OF
THINKING THAT IF PEOPLE COULD
JUST BE LIKE WHITE PEOPLE, IF
PEOPLE COULD JUST BE THIS MODEL
DEMOGRAPHIC, MODEL MINORITY,
WHICH I THINK IS --
>> I'M NOT SPEAKING OF A
PARTICULAR RACE.
FINANCIAL DEMOGRAPHICS.
SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO SAY BECAUSE
SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
TALKING ABOUT CRIME AND CRIME
GOING UP AND CRIMES NOT GOING
AWAY, WE KNOW THAT THE CRIME
EXISTS BECAUSE PEOPLE LIVE IN
POVERTY.
PEOPLE ARE UNEMPLOYED.
IF WE REDUCE POVERTY, IF PEOPLE
HAVE HOUSING, IF PEOPLE ARE
EMPLOYED, CRIME GOES DOWN.
SO I THINK THAT THIS IDEA THAT
PEOPLE CAN PICK THEMSELVES UP BY
THE BOOTSTRAPS, I MEAN, IT'S
JUST BEEN UNFOUNDED IN SO MANY
WAYS, AND EVIDENCE HAS SHOWN
THAT THAT IS JUST NOT THE CASE.
LIKE YOU CAN READ THE WORKS OF
MANY PROFESSORS TO TALK ABOUT
THAT.
I'S JUST NOT THE CASE.
WE NEED TO CREATE MORE EQUITY IN
SOCIETY WHICH DOES NOT MEAN
EVERYONE HAVING THE SAME, THAT
EQUALITY WHICH DOESN'T EXIST IN
OUR SOCIETY.
WE NEED EQUITY WHICH IS WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUT WE
CAN'T JUST PUT EVERYONE INTO ONE
MOULD AND EXPECT IT TO COME OUT
THE SAME.
IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M OUT OF TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
NEXT IS COUNCILOR BANGA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANKS TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.
I'M GOING TO GO STRAIGHT TO MY
QUESTIONS FOR MISS -- IS IT
LANGGRADER?
SPEAKER NUMBER 16.
MS. LANGGRADER, FROM YOUR OWN, I
GUESS, STATEMENT, YOU SAID THE
RACISM DOES EXIST, AND YOU
HAVE -- YOU KNOW PEOPLE SHOULD
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR.
AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS
MOTION YOU SAID DOES NOT ADDRESS
ADDRESSED.
THIS MOTION IS BASICALLY FIRST
ANALYZING, SEEKING INFORMATION,
AND PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ALL
AGREE.
SO WHY WOULD YOU BE NOT IN
FAVOUR OF THIS MOTION, AT LEAST
MOST OF THE MOTION, RATHER THAN
REJECTING IT ALL TOGETHER, JUST
GOING WITH THE STATUS QUO.
> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
I THINK THE MOTION NEEDED TO BE
BROKEN INTO TWO.
ONE THAT WOULD FOCUS IN
ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF RACISM
AND MISUSE OF FORCE, WHICH 100%
IS AN ISSUE.
AND JUST LIKE IF WE'RE LOOKING
AT OTHER PROFESSIONS, TEACHERS,
DOCTORS, ACCOUNTANTS, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD EVERYBODY
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOUR
WHETHER IT'S RACIST BEHAVIOUR OR
ANY OTHER BEHAVIOUR.
THE MOTION, ALTHOUGH, RIGHT NOW
ON THE FLOOR IS FOCUSING ON
BUDGETING.
WHETHER WE NEED TO TAKE THE
MONEY OUT AND REPURPOSE IT TO
SOCIAL AGENCIES.
I LIKED WHAT LINDSAY SAID IN HER
SPEECH IS A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ON
THE PANEL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF
NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH CRIME THERE
IS IN THE CITY OF EDMONTON.
AND DRUG DEALERS AND PEDOPHILES
ARE NOT GOING TO MAGICALLY
DISAPPEAR BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING
TO DEFUND THE POLICE.
THEY'LL STILL BE THERE, THEY'LL
STILL BE ABUSING THE SYSTEM AND
OUR CHILDREN AND OUR PEERS
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE
GOING TO TAKE THAT 30% OR DEFUND
THE POLICE.
THE BAD FOLKS ARE STILL GOING TO
BE THERE AND WILL NEED POLICE TO
LOOK AFTER US AS A NATION.
>> ANY WAY THE MOTION COULD BE
SPLIT LATER ON?
JUST A MOTION FOR NOW.
QUESTION FOR MS. HARDER.
MS. HARDER, YOU MENTIONEDDED IN
YOUR PRESENTATION THAT POLICE
RETRAUMATIZES VICTIMS.
IS IT THE POLICE OR IS IT ALSO
OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM?
EVERYTHING ALL COMBINED
TOGETHER.
>> ABSOLUTELY, IT'S 100% THE
ENTIRE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE WHOLE
PROCESS, ANYTHING RELATED TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
IT'S ALL -- IT'S ALREADY
TRAUMATIZING IT, YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THAT'S WHY, AS JONAH WAS SAYING,
WE NEED TO INVEST AND UTILIZE
SYSTEMS SURROUNDING COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTABILITY.
I THINK THEY'RE MUCH SAFER
SYSTEMS FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL
ABUSE TO GO TO.
THERE'S LESS RISK OF THAT
RETRAUMATIZATION FOR SURE.
>> OKAY.
SO WHEN -- RIGHT NOW DEFUNDING
OF POLICE IS THE MAIN TOPIC, BUT
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR NOT WIL.
BUT COULD YOU TELL ME THAT ONCE
THERE IS NO POLICE, WOULD WE
HAVE ANY JUSTICE SYSTEM AT ALL?
WHAT'S THE NEED FOR THAT?
>> YEAH, I THINK GOING BACK TO
REMARKS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
MADE, THERE ARE SYSTEMS THAT
BLACK PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE,
AND PEOPLE OF COLOUR HAVE BEEN
UTILIZING FOR COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR LITERALLY
HUNDREDS OF YEARS BECAUSE THEY
CANNOT TURN TO POLICE.
EVEN A LOT OF WHITE PEOPLE FEEL
THEY CAN'T TURN TO POLICE AS
WELL.
SO I GUESS MAYBE MY ANSWER IS WE
ALREADY HAVE THOSE SYSTEMS.
WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN THOSE
SYSTEMS.
THERE IS LITERALLY NO REASON TO
HAVE POLICE WHEN ALL THEY DO IS
TRAUMATIZE PEOPLE BECAUSE POLICE
COMMIT SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS WELL
AND RETRAUMATIZED PEOPLE WHO
VIOLENCE.
>> THEN YOU MENTIONED 40% OF
POLICE COMMIT SPOUSAL VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL VIOLENCE, WHATEVER.
COULD YOU BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH
ME OR SEND ME SOMETHING WHERE I
CAN GET THIS -- THESE STATS.
>> ABSOLUTELY, I WILL E-MAIL YOU
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NO WORRIES.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
NEXT IS COUNCILOR HENDERSON.
>> YEAH, MR. [INDISCERNIBLE]
SOMETHING INTERESTING YOU SAID
AND I HAVE COUNCILOR McKEEN'S
ENTHUSIASM FOR RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE.
I WAS PART OF AN ORGANIZATION
WITH RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.
I'M WELL AWARE OF IT.
WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT
WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD, AND
IT'S ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL
QUESTIONS I'M WONDERING WE NEED
TO ASK, IT'S THIS LINE BETWEEN
WHAT THE POLICE DO AND WHAT THE
JUSTICE PART OF THE SYSTEM DOES
WHICH IS MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT
THE [INDISCERNIBLE], EITHER
JUSTICE OR WHATEVER THAT LOOKS
LIKE [INDISCERNIBLE] MUDDIES
OVER TIME AND THAT THAT'S PART
OF THE PROBLEM THAT I DON'T
THINK THAT THE MEETING OUT OF
JUSTICE HAS BEEN PART OF WHAT WE
ASKED THE POLICE TO DO, YET IT'S
BECOME PART OF THE WAY GOING
FORWARD.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REALLY
TRILLION QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK
ABOUT.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY
THOUGHTS ON THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT
SURE -- IT TROUBLES ME A LITTLE
BIT THAT IT BECOMES THE POLICE'S
CALL ON HOW JUSTICE IS METED
OUT.
>> WHEN WE ALLOW POLICE TO KILL
PEOPLE AND NOT BE ACCOUNTABLE TO
THAT, WE ARE SUGGESTING THAT
THEY HAVE THE FINAL CALL ON WHO
IS EXECUTED, RIGHT.
YOU CAN LEAVE VIOLENT PEOPLE IN
A ROOM BY THEMSELVES AND THERE'
ACTUALLY CAUSE AT THAT MOMENT.
THAT'S HOW MY PARTNER
DEESCALATES STUDENTS WHEN THEY
HAVE WEAPONS AND ARE TRYING TO
STAB HER.
WE DON'T NEED TO SHOOT PEOPLE.
I WOULD LOVE IT -- NO F I
WOULDN'T -- IT WOULD BE -- IT'S
A LITTLE NAIVE TO THINK THAT
COPS ARE GIVING OUT CHARGES
BASED ON SORT OF A REALLY FAIR
AND EVERYONE GETS
[INDISCERNIBLE] THE SAME WAY
SYSTEM BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT
WORKS.
WHITE PEOPLE GET WARNINGS, THEY
GET "DON'T DO THAT NEXT
TIME," RIGHT.
WHERE PEOPLE ARE DYING.
OR THEY GET A KNEE ON THEIR NECK
WHEN THEY MAKE A DISTRESS CALL.
SO I THINK IT'S NAIVE TO EXPECT
THAT POLICE AREN'T INVOLVED IN
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THAT WAY.
THEY DO DECIDE WHO GETS BROUGHT
IN TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THAT IS THEIR JOB.
AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE A LITTLE
BIT TOO MUCH POWER IN THAT
REGARD.
A LITTLE IS MAYBE AN
UNDERSTATEMENT ON MY PART.
DECISION WE DO ASK THEM TO DO
BUT THE METING OUT OF JUSTICE IS
NOT ONE OF THEM, I DON'T THINK.
AND THE -- WE LOOK AT A NUMBER
OF THE INSTANCES WE'VE SEEN,
THEY SEEM PUNITIVE.
AND IT WORRIES ME THAT THEY PUT
THAT EXPECTATION ON THAT HAS
BECOME ACCEPTABLE IN A WAY THAT
I THINK IS MUDDYING THINGS IN
TERMS OF WHAT WE WANT AND EXPECT
AND EMPOWER THE POLICE TO DO
NOW.
UNDERSTANDING I THINK WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING IS, IF I'VE GOT IT
RIGHT, THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THAT OTHER PART OF THE SYSTEM.
THE JUSTICE PART OF THE SYSTEM,
WE ALSO NEED TO BE ASKING,
THEY'RE ALSO PART OF -- BUT I
JUST WANT TO THE EXPLORE IT WITH
YOU BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WORRY WE
PUT THEM TOGETHER AND IT
PROBABLY IS REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE
THINGS.
OUR SYSTEM IS PART OF THE
PROTECTION IN OUR SYSTEM TO BE
ABLE TO SET UP FROM WHAT
[INDISCERNIBLE] IS SAYING IS
CONFIRMING THAT THEY HAVE GOT
MUDDIED OVER TIME.
IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?
>> I THINK THAT IS FAIR.
I THINK THIS POLICE CONVERSATION
IS THE FIRST CONVERSATION IN A
LONG, LONG SERIES OF
CONVERSATONS WHERE WE TALK
ABOUT HOW OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS
COLONIAL, AND IT'S ENFORCING
ESSENTIALLY BRITISH LAW UPON
LANDS THAT WERE HE WILL STOLEN
FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HERE.
I HAD ONE MORE THING TO SAY
ABOUT THAT.
POLICE -- OH, YEAH.
I THINK ANY TIME YOU GIVE PEOPLE
POWER LIKE WE'VE GIVEN POLICE,
THEY WILL ABUSE IT.
THEY HAVE A HARD JOB, AND IT'S
HARD NOT TO TURN THAT INTO ANGER
TOWARDS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING.
THEY HAVE TOO MUCH POWER.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY MY
QUESTION.
I'M VIRTUALLY OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU.
I'VE YOU'VE THANK YOU.
COUNCILOR ESSLINGER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR
TAKING YOUR TIME TO COME AND
SHARE WITH US TODAY YOUR
PERSPECTIVES.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR
CHRISTIE HARCOURT.
YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT YOU WORK
WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS
TO KEEP YOUR CLIENTS SAFE.
TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU CHOSE NOT
TO HAVE THE POLICE UP
[Audio difficulties]
CAN YOU FOUND OTHER WAYS TO KEEP
THEM SAFE.
I FIND THAT FASCINATING.
SO DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO FUND
MORE ORGANIZATIONS AND/OR TRAIN
THEM FOR THAT?
I DON'T THINK EVERYONE IS DOING
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> THANK YOU, MS. ESSLINGER.
I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITIES --
A FEW OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE SAID
THIS, ALEXIS IN PARTICULAR --
COMMUNITIES KNOW THEMSELVES.
THEY KNOW THEIR STRENGTHS AND
THEY KNOW THEIR VULNERABILITIES.
I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF
COMMUNITIES THAT IF THEY HAD A
LITTLE LESS FINANCIAL PRESSURE,
THEY COULD BE MORE CREATIVE.
THEY COULD IMAGINE THEIR OWN
SAFETY.
AND SO FOR OUR EVENT, OUR BIG
PEST SAFETY CONCERN IS
HOMOPHOBIC AND TRANSPHOBIC
PEOPLE WILL TARGET THEIR EVENT.
THAT'S OUR BIG CONCERN.
WE HOLD OUR EVENT AT CENTRAL
LIONS IN WARD 2 ALSO.
SO WE REALLY [INDISCERNIBLE]
BECAUSE WE KNOW UNIFORM POLICE
WILL ESCALATE SOME OF THE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO COME TO OUR EVENT.
WE KNOW THAT THEY WILL THEN BE
MORE AT RISK, THOSE YOUNG
PEOPLE.
SO WE REALLY ARE VERY DELIBERATE
IN THAT WAY.
I REALLY THINK THAT A LOT OF
COMMUNITIES COULD DO THIS WORK
AS WELL, THAT THEY COULD THINK
ABOUT WHAT SAFETY IS, WHERE
UNSAFETY EXISTS IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THINK ABOUT
COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S ABOUT
[INDISCERNIBLE] OR SOME OF THE
THINGS WE'RE HEARING
PROVINCIALLY, BUT I THINK IT'S
ABOUT KNOWING EACH OTHER,
KNOWING OUR NEIGHBOURS, AND
BEING ABLE TO FIND OUR WAYS OF
DEALING WITH ISSUES AS THEY COME
UP.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M JUST NOT
[Audio difficulties]
NEED TO BE HE BE COURAGED TO DO
SO -- ENCOURAGED TO DO SO
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A NATURAL
THING THAT [INDISCERNIBLE] WHAT
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
SO FOR YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT IT
PARTLY FUNDING, PARTLY ABOUT
ENCOURAGEMENT, TO DO SO.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S SO MUCH
ABOUT ENCOURAGEMENT.
I THINK IT'S A LOT ABOUT
RESOURCING AND PEOPLE KNOWING
THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO, THEY'RE
ALLOWED TO TAKE LEADERSHIP OVER
THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENTS, THAT
THEY'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE
OWNERSHIP.
OUR COMMUNITY LEAGUES HAVE
BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURS TO DO
SOCCER.
MY COMMUNITY LEAGUE TODAY IS
MOWING THE LAWN, MOWING THE
PARK.
PEOPLE JUST DECIDED BECAUSE
THERE WAS A LITTLE SPACE THAT
WAS CREATED, AND THEY DECIDED TO
FIND A WAY TO MOW THE PARK.
IF WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO
CALL ON EACH OTHER AND MAYBE THE
CITY COULD BE A CATALYST FOR
THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO COME
TOGETHER TO THINK, AS YOU KNOW,
MS. ESSLINGER, HERE IN OUR WARD
2 WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, DYNAMIC
ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY.
I GET TO BE RIGHT AT THE HEART
OF IT HERE.
AND I CON DER IN THAT COMMUNITY
WHAT KNOWLEDGE THERE MIGHT BE
ABOUT HOW TO LOOK AFTER THE
YOUNG PEOPLE, ABOUT HOW TO HELP
THEM TO KEEP OCCUPIED, ABOUT HOW
TO ORGANIZE FAMILIES AND FAMILY
SUPPORTS.
SO I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WHEN
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A
VACUUM, WE FILL IT.
AND WE FILL IT WITH OUR OWN
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU TALK ABOUT
COMMUNITY LEAGUES AND I THINK
THERE'S LOTS OF GROUPS THAT
COULD BE ENGAGED IN THIS
CONVERSATION.
SO I THINK THAT CONVERSATION WAS
A CROSS-SECTION OF COMMUNITIES
WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING
TODAY.
THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
COUNCILOR KNACK.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND
AGAIN THANK YOU TO ALL OF THIS
PANEL FOR PROVIDING YOUR
COMMENTS.
MS. HARCOURT, I WANTED TO ASK
YOU, BECAUSE YOU HAD BRIEFLY
TOUCHED ON IT DURING YOUR
PRESENTATION, DID I HEAR YOU
CORRECTLY SAYING YOU WERE
ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN THE STREET
CHECK REVIEW WORK?
IS THAT CORRECT?
OH, DID WE LOSE -- CHRISTIE
REJOINED.
IS CHRISTIE BACK?
>> Mayor Don Iveson:
MS. HARCOURT, ARE YOU THERE?
>> YOU'RE JUST MUTED RIGHT NOW,
BUT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU,
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO -- THANK YOU.
>> I AM, SORRY.
I PRESSED THE WRONG BUTTON.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD MY --
>> Mayor Don Iveson: I'LL GIVE
YOU 2 MINUTES EXTRA TIME.
>> YOU MENTIONED YOU WERE
INVOLVED IN THE STREET CHECK
REVIEW, THE ACTUAL REPORT
PROCESS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I WAS, YES.
>> YOU TOUCHED ON IT VERY
BRIEFLY SO I WOULDN'T MIND A
LITTLE MORE INFORMATION IF YOU
WOULDN'T MIND EXPANDING IT.
SOUNDED LIKE ALL THIS WORE WENT
INTO THE REPORT AND -- WORK WENT
INTO THE REPORT AND I FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE INTERPRETING WHAT YOU
SAID, PUSHED IT OFF TO THE SIDE,
BUT CAN YOU ELABORATE BECAUSE I
DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR
MOUTH ON THAT.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO.
AT THE TIME THE STREET CHECK
REPORT RESEARCH HAPPENED, I WAS
WORKING FOR THE PRIDE CENTRE OF
EDMONTON AS A PROGRAM MANAGER.
I DON'T WORK THERE ANYMORE AND I
DON'T REPRESENT THEM.
THE RESEARCHERS COULD NOT GET
ANYBODY IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
TO TALK TO THEM IS THE TRUTH.
BECAUSE I THINK THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE POLICE WERE SO BROKEN
DOWN.
SO THEY CALLED ME FIVE TIMES AND
ASKED ME TO TAKE PART.
I'M A 47-YEAR-OLD WHITE LADY WHO
LIVES IN A MIDDLE CLASS WHO OWNS
HER HOUSE.
I DON'T GET CARDED.
SO MY FUNDER -- RESEARCHERS
CALLED MY FUNDER AND TOLD THEM
TO MAKE ME TAKE PART.
SO I DID.
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS WHEN YOU
WORK IN A NONPROFIT.
AND I CONVENED A FOCUS GROUP.
I AM REFERRED TO AS THE OLD GAY
LADY.
OLD GAY WHITE LADY IN THE
RESEARCH.
THAT'S ME.
I CONVENED A FOCUS GROUP AT
GREAT SOCIAL CAPITAL ASKING
COLLEAGUES WHO WERE RACIALIZED
AND HAD AN EXPERIENCE OF CARDING
IF THEY WOULD SHARE THEIR
EXPERIENCE, AND THEY DID.
THEY WERE [INDISCERNIBLE] IN THE
REPORT.
AND THEY TOLD THEIR STORIES
ABOUT BEING CARDED.
ONE OF THEM TALKED ABOUT NOT
BEING ABLE TO LEAVE THEIR
NEIGHBOURHOOD BECAUSE OF BEING
CARDED.
ANOTHER ONE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE
PRESSURES OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
AND FAMILY VIOLENCE WERE
COMPLICATED BY THE FACT WHEN
THEY COULDN'T GO HOME, THEY
WOULD GET HARASSED AND MOVED
ALONG BY POLICE.
SO WE DID TAKE PART IN THAT
RESEARCH.
NOT WITH A LOT OF HOPE,
HONESTLY.
BUT WITH -- UNDER SOME PRESSURE.
SO I WAS THERE THE DAY THAT THE
REPORT WAS LAUNCHED AT THE
POLICE COMMISSION.
I WAS INVITED, AND I WENT.
AND I READ THE REPORT.
I HAD SOME FRUSTRATIONS WITH IT,
BUT I DID FEEL LIKE OKAY, HERE'S
THE INFORMATION ABOUT CARDING.
AND THAT DAY -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
THEY READ IT SO FAST -- BUT THAT
DAY THE THEN CHIEF DISMISSED THE
REPORT.
HE SAID THAT IT REVEALED THAT
THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND THAT IT
UPHELD THE POSITION OF THE EPS
AND IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING FOR ME
AND I'M SURE FOR MANY OF YOU ON
COUNCIL, TO HEAR -- TO HAVE
TRIED AGAIN TO ENGAGE WITH THE
SYSTEM AND TO HAVE THEM JUST
DISMISS IT.
SO CARDING IS AN ISSUE.
CARDING IS AN ISSUE THAT DEEPLY
IMPACTS TRANS PEOPLE, GENDER
NONCONFORMING PEOPLE, INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE, AND MANY
OTHERS IN EDMONTON.
AND IF -- I KNOW YOU CANDIDATE
MAKE THE POLICE STOP CARDING.
I KNOW THAT'S BEYOND YOUR
ABILITY.
THE ONLY THINGS I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU CAN CONTROL ABOUT THE
POLICE IS THEIR BUDGET AND THEIR
BUILDINGS.
AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO IMPACT
THEIR BUDGET AS A WAY OF TRYING
TO MAKE THESE THINGS BE TAKEN
MORE SERIOUSLY.
I'M SORRY THAT I HUNG UP BEFORE.
>> NO, NO.
THANK YOU.
THAT'S HELPFUL.
I THINK I HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR
ONE MORE QUESTION FOR MR. ELKI,
I BELIEVE IT WAS, AND JUST
WANTED TO CONFIRM.
SO YOU TALKED ABOUT SITUATIONS
WHERE YOUR PARTNER IS
DEESCALATING STUDENTS, INCLUDING
VIOLENCE SITUATIONS.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT DURING THE
PUBLIC HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO
SAY THAT POLICE ARE GOING TO BE
NEEDED IN SOME OF THOSE
SITUATIONS.
WE'VE NEVER GOING TO ELIMINATE
THAT NEED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
I ACTUALLY WANT TO ASK -- IF WE
TOOK A STEP BACK AND WE LOOKED
AT WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO
FURTHER UPSTREAM, DO YOU HAVE
ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IF YOUR
PARTNER HAD ANY SUGGESTIONS,
WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO
UPSTREAM TO HELP REMOVE THE NEED
DEESCALATE A SITUATION LIKE
THAT.
ARE THERE THINGS WE SHOULD BE
INVESTING IN OR DOING TO HELP
REDUCE THAT EMERGENCY CALL?
>> WHEN MY PARTNER IS
INTERACTING WITH THESE
OPPORTUNITIES, THESE STUDENTS
ARE OFTEN HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS.
THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
EXPERIENCED A LOT OF TRAUMA IN
THEIR LIVES VIA THE RESIDENTIAL
SCHOOL SYSTEM, JUST LIKE SCHOOL
BEING DANGEROUS FOR THEM,
TEACHERS NOT TAKING THEM
SERIOUSLY, GETTING KICKED OUT OF
CLASSROOMS.
THEY HAVE OFTEN GONE TO 30
SCHOOLS BY THE TIME THEY GET TO
HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY'RE IN GENERAL NOT GOING TO
GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE
THEIR BEHAVIOUR IS SUCH THAT
THEY CAN'T STAY IN SCHOOL.
SO THESE SITUATIONS ARE
SITUATIONS THAT HAPPEN TO
ESPECIALLY TRAUMATIZED PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU GET TRIGGERED IT'S
REALLY HARD -- YOUR BODY GOES
INTO FIGHT MODE AND YOU WILL
FIGHT PEOPLE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE A
BAD PERSON.
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE DANGEROUS
ANY OTHER TIME IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU ARE TRIGGERED, YOU'RE HAVING
A MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE.
WHEN WHITE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY
TALK ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME, WE
OFTEN TALK LIKE VIOLENT CRIME IS
HAPPENING BECAUSE THERE ARE EVIL
PEOPLE IN THE WORLD COMING TO
GET YOU.
THAT IN GENERAL ISN'T REALLY
WHAT'S HAPPENING WHEN PEOPLE ARE
VIOLENT.
THERE'S INTERPERSONAL DISPUTES,
THAT'S MOST OF IT.
WE KNOW FROM STATISTICS PEOPLE
DON'T KILL STRANGERS VERY OFTEN.
THAT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S
ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO AT THE
END OF THE DAY BECAUSE NOT
TRAUMATIZING PEOPLE ANYMORE,
WHICH ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, TO
KEEP ESCALATION FROM HAPPENING.
I THINK WHAT ULTIMATELY NEEDS TO
BE HAPPENING IS THAT IF POLICE
ARE STILL INVOLVED IN THESE
CALLS, WE NEED TO BE SEEING THE
PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM WITH
DIGNITY AND HUMANITY AND
EMPATHY.
AND RIGHT NOW, WITH THE WAY THE
POLICE SYSTEM WORKS, THAT ISN'T
POSSIBLE.
POLICE OFFICERS AREN'T GOING
INTO CALLS EXPECTING TO FIND
ANOTHER HUMAN BEING THERE WHO'S
IN DISTRESS AND OFFERING CARE TO
THAT PERSON.
THEY ARE ESCALATING THE
SITUATION MOST OF THE TIME.
BODY CAMS DON'T HELP.
WE'VE TRIED TRAININGS, RIGHT.
MINNEAPOLIS WAS A PROGRESSIVE
POLICE SERVICE, AND THEY HAD TO
DISBAND BECAUSE THEY REALIZED
THAT WHAT THEY WERE DOING WASN'T
WORKING.
AND I THINK THAT THAT HOLDS TRUE
HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
HOLD ON JUST A SECOND HERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
OF COUNCIL?
COUNCILOR PAQUETTE, COULD YOU
TAKE THE CHAIR..
>> I HAVE THE CHAIR.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GREAT,
THANK YOU.
MS. FRIZIK, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
PANELISTS, BUT I THINK I AGREE
WITH YOUR POINT HAVING A
FEAR-BASED CONVERSATION ABOUT
ANY OF THIS IS PROBLEMATIC AND
IN FACT I THINK FEAR OF THE
OTHER -- GROUPS THAT ARE OTHER
IS THEY ROOT OF SO MUCH OF THE
PAIN THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT
HERE AND THAT TO THE EXTENT WE
CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ROOTED
IN LOVE AND COMPASSION AND
CURIOSITY AND OPENNESS TO THE
EXPERIENCES OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT
WE'RE GOING TO GET FURTHER.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I GUESS I WANT
TO CHECK ARE WE ALIGNED ON THE
VALUES THERE AS A STARTING
POINT?
>> THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION.
SURE, APPROACHING -- CENTERING
YOURELF IN LOVE IS GREAT.
CENTERING YOURELF AS A WHITE
PERSON IN THE CONVERSATION IS
DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC.
HOWEVER, WHEN I MENTIONED WHITE
FRAGILITY AND -- I MEAN, THAT IS
A TOOL OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
WHITE FRAGILITY WANTS US TO BE
AFRAID.
WHITE SUPREMACY WANTS US TO
ENFORCE IT, YOU KNOW.
SO THAT EVERY CHOICE I MAKE IN
MY DAY THAT FEELS GOOD TO ME IS
ACTUALLY -- AND I DON'T EVEN
KNOW IT -- IT'S DOING A VIOLENCE
TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
SO YEAH.
BE ROOTED IN LOVE, BE ROOTED IN
COMPASSION.
ALSO BE ROOTED IN HISTORICAL
FACT AND DO A LOT OF RESEARCH.
I WOULD DEFER TO ANYBODY ELSE
WHO HAS ANY IDEA.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THERE ARE
LOTS OF DIFFERENT MODELS OF
UNDERSTANDING RACISM OUT THERE,
USUALLY THE DIFFERENT MODELS
I'VE SEEN MAKE IT SOME KIND OF
DISTINCTION BETWEEN HISTORICAL
AND STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMIC AND
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND
INTERPERSONALLY MEDIATED OR
PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL RACISM.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENS IN THESE
CONVERSATIONS, WHAT I'VE
OBSERVED AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE
YOUR REACTION AND REFLECTION ON,
IS THAT AN ASPECT OF THE
FRAGILITY THAT YOU DESCRIBE
IS -- AND I THINK MS. DINAR
MENTIONED THIS, AND I'D LIKE HER
THOUGHTS TOO IN A MOMENT -- BUT
THAT PEOPLE CAN HEAR THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT STRUCTURAL
AND INSTITUTIONAL OR SYSTEMIC
RACISM AND INTERNALIZE THAT
DEFENSIVELY; THAT THAT IS THE
ACT OF FRAGILITY OF TAKING
PERSONALLY THE COMMENTARY ABOUT
WHAT IS SYSTEMIC.
AND THE MINUTE SOMEONE IS THERE,
AND I HAVE BEEN THERE.
I'M NOT THERE RIGHT NOW.
BUT I HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN A
PERSON FEELS THAT THEY'RE BEING
PERSONALLY ATTACKED FOR THEIR
ROLE IN UPHOLDING A SYSTEM, AND
THE CENTRE OF THAT.
BUT I AM A FOCAL POINT OF IT
ALONG WITH OTHER LEADERS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THAT THAT IS A CHALLENGING PLACE
THAT IS A CHALLENGING PLACE
TO HAVE AN OPEN AND CURIOUS
AND LOVING AND COMPASSIONATE
CONVERSATION THAT REALLY
HEARS THE PAIN AND THE
CONCERNS AND THE POLICY
SUGGESTIONS.
SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT THAT IS VERY REAL, WHAT
YOU'VE DESCRIBED.
AND THEN ASK FOR YOUR
REACTION AND MISS DINNER'S
REACTION ABOUT WHAT ARE THE
BEST ANTIDOTES TO THAT THAT
YOU HAVE SEEN THAT OPEN UP
THE MOST THOUGHTFUL KIND OF
SPACE FOR ACTUALLY TACKLING
THE -- BOTH -- WELL, FOR
PEOPLE TO GO THROUGH THE
KIND OF REFLECTION THAT I
THINK WE'RE ALL BEING ASKED
TO DO RIGHT NOW AROUND OUR
OWN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE
AND OUR INDIVIDUAL PRIVILEGE
AND BENEFIT FROM SYSTEMS
THAT HAVE ADVANTAGED WHITE
PEOPLE AND MEN IN
PARTICULAR.
>> YEAH.
YEAH, YEAH.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GET
BACK TO THIS --
>> SORRY.
>> Mayor Don Iveson:
INSTITUTIONAL -- GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> YEAH.
A LOT IN THIS
MISUNDERSTANDING IS NAMED
SONYA RENEE TAYLOR.
SHE'S A WRITER AND A POET
AND -- AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S
REALLY CALLING -- LIKE SHE
WILL SPEAK VERY CLEARLY TO
WHITE PEOPLE AND SAY, LIKE,
DON'T PERSONALIZE T.LIKE IF
YOU THINK OF WHITENESS AS
SOMETHING LIKE A SICKNESS
[ Chuckles ]
THAT'S LIKE -- LIKE TAMARA
MENTION -- TAMMAR MENTIONED
THE RAINING DOWN ON ALL OF
US.
AS SOON AS YOU PERSONALIZE
THAT, AS SOON AS YOU DON'T
EVEN WANT TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE
BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU FEEL
GUILTY, YOU'VE SHOT DOWN --
SHUT DOWN AND YOU'RE NOT
OPEN TO IDEAS AND YOU'RE NOT
LISTENING, AND THEN YOU'RE
MAKING IT ABOUT YOU.
[ Chuckles ]
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT NEEDS TO
BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO
MOVE FAST ON THIS BECAUSE
LIKE -- LIKE TIME --
>> Mayor Don Iveson: JUST
ABOUT OUT --
>> HOW LONG DOES TAKE TO
DEAL WITH THIS SHIT?
>> Mayor Don Iveson: PLEASE.
>> PARDON MY FRENCH.
I'M SO SORRY.
>> Mayor Don Iveson:
LANGUAGE IN THIS SETTING.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR MISS DINNER
ON THE SAME POINT BEFORE I
RUN OUT OF TIME.
>> THANKS, DON.
I THINK WHAT'S MOST
IMPORTANT -- I MEAN THERE
ARE MANY PEOPLE OF COLOUR ON
THIS PANEL WHO COULD SPEAK
TO THIS SO MUCH BETTER THAN
I CAN AND SO MANY BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT WE WHITE PEOPLE
CAN DO AND TELLING US OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP
TOO MUCH SPACE AS A WHITE
PERSON TALKING ABOUT THAT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR OWN
CITY WHO ARE TELLING US WHAT
WE CAN DO.
WE NEED TO LISTEN AND WE
NEED TO LEARN.
LIKE NATASHA SAID, WE NEED
TO MAKE THIS NOT
SOMETHING -- WE HAVE TO DO
OUR PERSONAL WORK BUT WE
WILLS HAVE TO REALIZE THAT
THIS IS ABOUT THE BIGGER
PICTURE, NOT BE DEFENSIVE
AND NOT MAKE OUR OWN
FEELINGS.
OUR FEELINGS DO NOT MATTER
MORE THAN BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S LIVES
AND EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES.
SO KEEP DIGGING INTO THAT
AND I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO
IS SIT IN DISCOMFORT.
WHITE PEOPLE ARE NOT USED TO
BEING UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE
OF RACISM.
PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE RACISM
ARE UNCOMFORTABLE EVERY DAY,
AND IF AFTER TWO WEEKS WE'VE
HAD ENOUGH WITH TALKING
ABOUT RACISM AND ANTI-RACISM,
THAT IS NOT OK.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
SIT WITH DISCOMFORT IN EVERY
SINGLE DAY UNTIL -- UNTIL
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOUR CAN LIVE
THEIR LIVES WITH DIGNITY,
WITH BEING GEFFEN DIGNITY
AND RESPECT WITH OTHERS.
THEY'RE LIVING THEIR LIVES
WITH DIGNITY AND INTEGRITY
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO FIND OUR
OWN HUMANITY TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT AS WELL.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK
YOU.
I WISH I COULD GET
PERSPECTIVES FROM MANY OF
YOU ON IT.
MANY OF YOU HAVE ADDRESSED
IT IN YOUR POINTS.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CIVIL
DISCOURSE HERE THIS MORNING.
I SUPPOSE TECHNICALLY I'LL
TAKE THE CHAIR BACK FROM
COUNCILLOR PAQUETTE.
THANK YOU.
AND SO WITH THANKS FOR ALL
OF YOU AND FOR THE TIP ON
SONYA RENE TAIL OR.
EULA BLISS HAS BEEN REALLY
HELPFUL TO ME IN THIS, FOR
WHAT IT'S WORTH, AS ANOTHER
RESOURCE ON SOME OF THESE
QUESTIONS.
SO UNLESS -- I'LL JUST ONE
LAST CALL TO SEE IF THERE
ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HERE.
NOT SEEING ANY, THEN WE WILL
RECESS UNTIL PANEL 11, WHICH
IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT
1:30 p.m.
THANK YOU ALL.
CAPTIONING OF THIS MEETING
IS PROVIDED AS A
COMMUNICATION ACCESSIBILITY
MEASURE AND IS NOT INTENDED
AS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT OF
THE PROCEEDINGS.
IF INACCURACIES OCCUR, IT
MAY BE DUE TO HUMAN ERROR,
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES OR AN
INABILITY ON THE PART OF THE
WRITER TO HEAR OR UNDERSTAND
WHAT IS BEING SAID.
WHILE BEST EFFORTS ARE MADE
TO DOCUMENT AS CLOSELY AS
POSSIBLE WHAT IS BEING SAID,
THE CAPTIONS CANNOT BE
RELIED UPON AS A CERTIFIED
ACCURATE RECORD OF THE
PROCEEDINGS.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: ALL RIGHTY.
I THINK WE'RE ONLINE.
SO I WILL START ROLL CALL TO 
ESTABLISH ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS 
OF COUNCIL AT THIS VIRTUAL 
MEETING, STARTING THIS TIME WITH
COUNCILLOR WALTERS.
>> I AM HERE, Mr. MAYOR. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: GOOD 
AFTERNOON.
COUNCILLOR BANGA. 
>> PRESENT. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: B.C..
COUNCILLOR CARTMELL?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
COUNCILLOR CATERINA?
>> I'M HERE. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU, 
COUNCILLOR DZIADYK. 
>> PRESENT. 
>> THANK 
GOOD AFTERNOON. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: 
EDMONTON POLICE COMMISSION -- I 
WANT TO READ CANADIANS WHO HAVE 
RECENTLY DIED AFTER POLICE WERE 
INVOLVED DURING THE MENTAL 
HEALTH CRISIS.
EJASS CHOUDRY, REGIS 
KORCHINKSI-PAQUET, CHANTAL 
MOORE, DEAND RAY COMBELL.
THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF A SYSTEM
THAT HAS REGULARLY FAILED THEM, 
A SYSTEM THAT WE MUST CHANGE TO 
AVOID FURTHER TRAGEDY.
IS CBC ANALYSIS OF DEATHS FOUND 
THAT 70% OF VICTIMS FROM 2000, 
TO 2017 STRUGGLED WITH A MENTAL 
HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES
WITH BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
BEING KILLED AT 
DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH RATES.
THIS ISSUE IS PERSONAL TO ME, 
BECAUSE I'VE RECENTLY BEEN 
STRUGGLING WITH SEVERE 
DEPRESSION.
THERE ARE MOMENTS I FEEL I WOULD
BE SAFER IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE
I CANNOT GUARANTEE MY SAFETY.
IT IS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE TO
BE UNABLE TO TRUST YOURSELF.
PEOPLE IN CRISIS DON'T NEED TO 
BE MET WITH VIOLENCE AND PUT IN 
HANDCUFFS.
THEY NEED TO BE MET WITH 
COMPASSION AND RESOURCES TO HELP
THEM DELIVER A PLAN FOR THEIR 
SAFETY WITH THEIR CONSENT.
LOOKING AT THE POLICE TRACK 
RECORD, WOULD YOU FEEL 
COMFORTABLE CALLING 911 FOR 
HELP, KNOWING THAT POLICE MIGHT 
COME.
ESPECIALLY AS A PERSON OF 
COLOUR.
KNOWING YOU NEED HELP AND ASKING
FOR HELP WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING 
WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS 
HARD ENOUGH.
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO 
CONSIDER THE RISKS OF INVOLVING 
EMERGENCY SERVICES WHEN LOOK 
BEING FOR HELP.
I CALL FOR DEFUNDING WITH NO 
POLICE INVOLVEMENT AND GIVING 
FUNDING TO 211 AND DE-ESCULATION
AND CRISIS TRAINING.
I THINK SROs SHOULD BE REMOVED 
FROM SCHOOLS, AND REPLACED WITH 
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO 
ARE EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE 
ISSUES THAT MANY YOUTH ARE 
FACING.
IT IS PAST TIME TO ADEQUATELY 
FUND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND
END POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN MENTAL
HEALTH EMERGENCIES.
I ASK YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOUR OF 
THIS MOTION, BUT ENCOURAGE YOU 
TO GO FURTHER.
CONSIDER THIS MOTION A FIRST 
STEP BUT BY NO MEANS THE ONLY 
STEP TAKEN TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
NEXT IS KIRA COST AR. 
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: SEE IF YOU 
CAN GET CLOSER TO YOUR MIC, 
THOUGH. 
>> IS THAT ANY BETTER?
>> Mayor Don Iveson: A LITTLE 
BUILT.
YOU MAY HAVE TO SPEAK UP A BIT. 
>> THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.
CAN YOU SEE THE SLIDES?
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THEY WERE 
COMING UP, YES, THEY'RE THERE.
THEY'RE PINNED NOW, GO AHEAD. 
>> I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS 
HEARING CLOSELY, AND LIKE OVER 
4,000 PEOPLE THAT HAVE TUNED IN 
OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVE 
HEARD AND SUPPORT THE TIRELESS 
EFFORTS THAT THE MLMYEG HAS MADE
TO GET US TO THIS MOMENT.
THROUGHOUT THIS HEARING I HAVE 
SEEN THE STRUGGLE AND DISTANCE 
BETWEEN THE EDMONTON NU AND THE 
COUNTLESS EXPERIENCES OF THOSE 
BEING VICTIMIZED BY EPS TODAY.
YOU ARE CURRENTLY GRAPPLING WITH
THE COPS YOU'VE KNOWN FOR DECADE
VERSUS COUNTLESS SERIES FROM 
EDMONTONIANS YOU'VE NEVER MET.
YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S TWO VERY 
DIFFERENT CITIES.
COUNCIL STATED THAT PEOPLE WITH 
GOOD INTENTIONS, AND A DESIRE TO
BE GOOD GUYS JOIN EPS THIS IS 
FLAWED BOTH IN REINFORCING THAT 
INDIVIDUALS ARE EITHER GOOD OR 
BAD, AND SECONDLY THAT 
INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO REMAIN 
GOOD IN A SYSTEM THAT IS DEEPLY 
FLAWED AND NO LONGER IN A 
POSITION TO REHABILITATE.
POLICE HAVE SAID THAT THEY'RE 
DOING WHAT SOCIETY ASKS OF THEM.
THEY'RE RIGHT, THE INDIVIDUALS 
IN POWER, AND THOSE THAT HAVE 
HISTORICALLY SUPPORTED 
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS, WHICH WE 
NOW CONDEMN BUILT THE SYSTEMS 
AND THE DESIRE TO POLICING.
YOU MAY NOT HAVE BUILT IT, BUT 
YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO TAKE 
ACTION NOW.
WE NEED TONOFF BEYOND THINKING 
THAT PEOPLE THAT HARM ARE BAD, 
AND THE PEOPLE THAT GET HARMED 
ARE GOOD, AND STOP TREATING 
THESE TWO GROUPS AS IMMOVEABLE.
WHEN WE LABEL POLICE AS GOOD 
COPS, WE'RE REMOVING OUR 
CAPACITY TO LEARN AND GROW.
BY LABELLING PEOPLE BAD WE 
PARTICIPATE IN A SYSTEM THAT 
DOES NOT RECOGNIZE PEOPLE THAT 
WILL HARM OTHERS AND HAVE BEEN 
HARMED.
SOMETIMES AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS IS FOUNDATION TO 
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE WORK.
YOU CAN EFFECT HOUSING CHILDREN 
AND THEIR SAFETY ALL DUE TO THE 
RESPECT AND POWER THAT I HAVE AS
A PROFESSIONAL.
IF I AM LABELLED AS A GOOD 
WORKER, I AM BOTH MORE LIKELY TO
LABEL MY CLIENTS AS BAD, AND 
LESS LIKELY TO ADDRESS THE WAYS 
IN WHICH THE SYSTEM AND MY 
ACTIONS HARM.
EVEN IF I HAVE THE BEST OF 
INTENTIONS, IT IS NEAR 
IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID BURNOUT AND 
CREATIVELY SUPPORT OTHERS IN A 
FLAWED SYSTEM.
I I BELIEVE THAT THE CHIEF IS 
WANTING TO MAKE CHANGE, BUT 
MOVING THE NEED WAS SNEADED 15 
YEARSOGUE.
OUR POLICE FORCE AND COMMISSION 
ARE INCAPABLE OF MAKING THE 
SYSTEMIC CHANGE REQUIRED.
ONE OF THE SYSTEMIC CHANGES 
REQUIRED IN BOTH POLICING AND 
SOCIAL WORK A SOCIALIZATION AND 
DARK HUMOUR, THIS IS EXACERBATED
IN POLICING AS OFFICERS ARE TOLD
THEY MUST BE SUSPICIOUS OF 
ANYONE NOT ON THE FORCE, BUT THE
EFFECT IS SIMILAR.
WHEN YOU HAV AN ISOLATED GROUP 
EXPERIENCING TRAUMA INDIVIDUALS 
OFTEN TURN TO DARK HUMOUR AS A 
WAY TO COPE.
DARK HUMOUR REINFORCED THE 
TRAUMATIC MEMORIES, CONFIRMS IT 
ONCE IT EXPERIENCES THEM, 
SEPARATES THEM FROM INTEGRATING 
INTO SOCIETY AND DEHUMANIZING 
INDIVIDUALS.
THIS IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT US TO 
THIS MOMENT WE'RE IN NOW.
THE COMBINATION OF SOCIALIZATION
AND SOCIAL AND SOCIETY LABELLING
POLICE AS HEROES NOT ONLY 
AFFIRMS THAT THEY ARE ABOVE 
CRITICISM, BUT ALSO POSITIONS 
THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
AS A SACRIFICE NEEDED FOR THE 
GOOD OF SOCIETY.
HOW IS THIS OKAY TO DO TO 
POLICE?
LET ME TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT 
CONDITIONING AND SITUATIONALLY 
BASED BEHAVIOURS.
BEFORE COVID-19 THEY TALKED 
ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO 
GET DRESSED AND GO TO WORK.
PEOPLE RAPIDLY BECOME 
CONDITIONED TO THE POSITIONS 
WE'RE IN.
WHEN POLICE OFFICERS THEY'LL 
INTERACT WITH OTHERS DIFFERENTLY
THAN WHEN THEY TAKE IT OFF.
SO CONTROL AND SUPERIORITY, 
RAPIDLY ENHANCES PEOPLE TO BE 
MORE COMBATIVE AND REINFORCES 
THE IDEOLOGY OF WHO POLICE.
THIS TRANING IS INEFFECTIVE.
WHEN THE UNIFORM IS BACK ON, 
IT'S THE SAME OPERATION AS 
BEFORE.
WE LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT THE 
UNIFORM MEANS, FOR SOME IT'S 
THOUGHTS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY,
BUT FOR SOME IT BRINGS 
INSTINCTUAL EXPERIENCE THAT IS 
THEY'RE AT HARM TO BE RISKED 
WHEN THEY SEE ONE.
DESPITE OF BEST INTENTION AND A 
DESIRE TO MANGE CHANGE.
ALL INDIVIDUALS MUST ADAPT TO 
POLICING WHEN THEY JOIN.
IT IS IN JOINING A SYSTEM THAT 
CONTINUALLY REINFORCES THE 
CRIMINALIZATION OF RACIALIZED 
AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES 
THESE PEOPLE WHO DESIRE TO DO 
GOOD WILL EITHER BECOME BURNT 
OUT OR CONVINCED THE SYSTEM 
WORKS.
THIS DISTANCE IS CAUSED BY 
FORCED COMPLIANCE WHEN YOU HAVE 
TO DO SOMETHING YOU DON'T AGREE 
WITH.
OTHERWISE YOUR ABILITY TO PAY 
RENT WOULD BE AFFECTED.
THE ONLY WAY IS TO ADAPT TO THIS
SYSTEM IS EITHER TO CHANGE YOUR 
BELIEFS OUR CHANGE YOUR JOB.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO FEED YOUR 
FAMILY.
AND LASTLY, I'VE BEEN HEARING 
CONCERNS THAT EDMONTON DOESN'T 
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE 
CHANGE.
TD BANK ESTIMATED THAT IN 2016 
INDIGENOUS GROUPS PUT $32 
BILLION INTO THE CANADIAN 
ECONOMY, AND EDMONTON CURRENTLY 
HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST URBAN 
INDIGENOUS POPULATION.
ACT NOW AND GET THE POLICE TO 
STOP TRAUMATIZING THESE 
INDIVIDUALS AND ALLOW THEM TO 
FEED YOUR ECONOMY.
IT IS UP TO YOU TO BE A LEADER 
IN INDUSTRY, INTEGRITY AND 
PROGRESS.
WE'RE WATCHING.
I YIELD MY TIME.
MY TIMER SAID IT WAS FIVE 
MINUTES ALREADY.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
NEXT IS AALIYAH ROUF.
>> HELLO. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: HELLO, GO 
AHEAD. 
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE IDEA OF DEFENDING OUR POLICE
IS LONG OVERDUE.
WE HAVE GIVEN THEM OUR TRUST BUT
FOR TOO LONG HAVE SEEN 
DEVASTATINGLY MAJOR ABUSES OF 
POWER.
WE'VE SEEN DEATH, 
DISCRIMINATION, VIOLENCE AND 
AUTHORITARIAN PRACTICES BEING 
ENGAGED IN MY POLICE EVERYWHERE 
AND THE E.P.S. IS NOT IMMUNE, ME
AS AN 19-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS 
WALKING ALONE AND LATE WAS 
FOLLOWED BY A POLICEMAN WHERE 
TWO MEN HECKLED AND HARASSED ME.
I DID NOT FEEL SAFE OR 
PROTECTED.
I WAS AT THE MERCY OF TWO MEN 
WHO WERE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION
WHO IN THE PAST HAS NOT HAD TO 
ANSWER TO CONSEQUENCES OF MANY 
OF THEIR ACTIONS.
THESE WERE TWO MEN IN A VAN AND 
THE E.P.S. DECAL JUST MADE ME 
NERVOUS.
AS A WOMAN FACING OFFICERS OF A 
JOB OFTEN KNOWN TO ABUSE THEIR 
POWER AND GET AWAY WITH IT I WAS
TERRIFIED.
THEY DID NOT HELP, THEY CALLED 
ME A DRUNK MESS, THEY CALLED NEE
IRRESPONSIBLE, THEN CALLED ME 
OVER AND CONTINUED TO BULLY ME 
AS THOUGH WROTE ME A TICKET FOR 
JAYWALKING.
THEY DROVE AWAY, HACK LING ME 
AND LEFT ME UPSET THAN I WAS 
BEFORE.
I WAS SOBER EVEN IF I HAD BEEN 
DRUNK WHERE IN THIS WAS THE 
MOTTO OF PROTECT AND SERVE BEING
SHOWCASED.
MY BLACK FRIEND EXCITED ABOUT 
DRIVING HIS DAD'S FANCY CAR TO 
SCHOOL FOR THE DAY.
PULLED OVER AND ASKED 
POINT-BLANK IF HE WAS DEALING 
BECAUSE THAT'S A PRETTY NICE 
CAR.
SOME SAY INSPECT CANADA WE'RE 
IMMUNE, OUR HOMELESS PEOPLE SICK
WITH ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES NEEDING HELP AND INSTEAD 
RECEIVING VIOLENCE BULLYING AND 
HARASSMENT.
MY FRIEND' FATHER BEATEN NEARLY 
TO DEATH IT, JAW BROKEN IN THREE
PLACES, DEBILITATED BECAUSE HE 
KNOCKED SOMEONE'S MERE OFF THEIR
VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.
DID THIS WARRANT THE BEATING AND
A MAN BEING BEAT BY OFFICERS 
WHILE ALONE AND HANDCUFFED.
DID THEY REALLY FEEL LIKE HE WAS
THAT MUCH OF A THREAT.
THESE ARE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES 
FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
IS THIS THE JOB WE HAVE GIVEN 
POLICE, ACTING NOT AS SAVIOURS 
BUT AS BULLIES FLEXING THEIR 
MUSCLES OVER US.
THIS IS A CAREER THAT'S SUPPOSED
TO BE HELD TO A HIRE STANDARD.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEIR
PURPOSE WAS TO REMAIN CALM, 
DE-ESCALATE, ASSIST AND 
SOMETIMES DETAIN.
I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD GIVEN THIS 
OCCUPATION THE RIGHT TO DOLE OUT
VIGILANTE JUSTICE.
THE POLICE ARE NOT A JUDGE AND 
JURY.
WHY ARE THEY BE GIVEN THE RIGHT 
WHAT PUNISHMENT FITS THE CLIMB 
CRIME.
FOR PEOPLE OF COLOUR WHY IS IT 
SO OFTEN A PUNISHMENT OF 
VIOLENCE.
I HEAR THE ARGUMENT CONTESTING 
DEFUNDING.
WHY SHOULD THE ENTIRE POLICE 
FORCE BE PUNISHED FOR A FEW BAD 
APPLES.
MY RESPONSE IS WOULD BE IF A COP
WOULDN'T THEY BE FOR 
ACCOUNTABILITY.
IF THEY WANT TO HELP AND NOT 
JUST EXERT THEIR POWER, WOULDN'T
THEY BE FOR PRACTICES THAT ARE 
SHOWN A DRASTICALLY REDUCE CRIME
INSTEAD OF RESPONSE WOULD BE THE
NORM.
WHY IS OUR POLICE FULLY EQUIPPED
WITH RIOT GEAR WHEN OUR 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE SHORT ON 
MEDICAL MASKS DURING A PANDEMIC.
WHY IS THE FUNDING FOR 
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SO 
EMBARRASSINGLY LOW, BUT OUR 
POLICE ARE GETTING A FOURTH 
TACTICAL FORCE.
WHY HAS EDUCATION BEEN CUT, BUT 
THE POLICE FORCE FUNDED WELL A 
WELL STRUCTURED LEARNING 
ENVIRONMENT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
REDUCE THE NEED TO A POLICE 
FORCE THE WAY IT IS TODAY.
BETTER EDUCATION SHOW A CLEAR 
LINK WITH EDUCATION AND CRIME, 
BUT TEACHERS ARE LOSING THEIR 
JOB WHILE THE E.P.S. BEEFS UP.
CHANGE IS SCARY OFTEN NECESSARY.
WE'VE GIVEN THE SYSTEM IS CHANCE
AND IT'S PROVED IT'S SYSTEMLY 
RACIST STRUCTURING.
IT'S TIME FOR SOMETHING 
DIFFERENT.
IF THE POLICE FORCE IS PROVED TO
HELPING, LET'S FORCE THEM TO 
MAKE MEASURES THAT WILL DO SO.
REALLOCATE FUND TO PROGRAMS AND 
PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE TEETH 
BEYOND DETAPEMENT AND SHOW THE 
AUTHORITY SO PEOPLE IN DISTRESS 
MAY BE HELPED INSTEAD OF HURT SO
THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE MAY BE 
UNDERSTOOD INSTEAD OF JUDGED.
DEFUNDING IS NOT A REMOVAL OF 
CRIME RESPONSE IT'S A DIFFERENT 
AVENUE TO TAKE, ONE THAT MAY 
LEAD NOT TO...
SORRY -- ONE THAT MAY LEAD NOT 
ONLY TO LESS VIOLENT ACTS TAKING
PLACE DURING RESPONSE, BUT ALSO 
CRIME PREVENTION.
ONE NOT LINED WITH GUNS AND A 
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHEN THE POLICE ARE THE ONLY 
OPTION WE HAVE TO CALL IN TIMES 
OF DISTRESS, EVERY DISTURBANCE 
LOOKS LIKE A CRIME WHEN THE ONLY
TOOL YOU HAVE IS A HAMMER, EVERY
THING LOOKS LIKE A NAIL.
IF THE POLICE FORCE IS THE ONLY 
THING STANDING BETWEEN US AND 
DANGER WE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING 
DIFFERENT.
POLICE PRESENCE FOR ME HAS BEEN 
MET WITH ANXIETY AND 
ENTREPRENEUR, BUT THE WORSE THEY
COULD DO, INTAME ADDITION GIVE 
ME TICKET, BULLY, REMIND ME OF 
THEIR AUTHORITY.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THE FEAR A BLACK
OR INDIGENOUS PERSON FEELS WHEN 
THEY SPOT AN OFFICER.
I ONCE HAD A CRUISER APPROACH ME
WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR MY 
BOYFRIEND OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
HE SAID I WAS SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE
YOU WERE -- THEY LEFT ME ALONE, 
STILL THEIR DESIRE TO FIND OUT 
IF I WAS INDIGENOUS.
OUR CURRENT IS NOM ONE THAT 
OPERATES WITH EQUALITY.
IT LEADS FOR FURTHER OPPRESSION 
AND MARGINALIZATION OF PEOPLE'S 
WHOSE STRUGGLE SHOULD HAVE ENDED
A LONG TIME AGO.
THE DEED OF OPPRESSION CONDUCTED
AGAINST PAST GENERATIONS OF 
THESE COMMUNITIES ARE STILL 
BEING SEEN TODAY.
OUR SOCIETY IS BROKEN HAVING 
BEEN BUILT ON THE PERCEIVED 
SUPERIORITY OF COLOUR -- 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU. 
>> BLACK LIVES MATTER PLEASE 
DEFUND THE POLICE. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
NEXT WAS DRAYTON FAVEL ABLE TO 
JOIN US?
>> The Clerk: NO, WE DID NOT 
HEAR FROM THEM. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: HELEN FROST
IS NEXT. 
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> Mayor Don Iveson: YES.
GO AHEAD. 
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL 
TODAY.
NIGH NAME IS HELEN FROST AND I'M
HERE TO SHARE MY PERSONAL 
PERSPECTIVE AND TO SPEAK AS A 
FORMER SKOLLER OF GENDER BASED 
VIOLENCE.
I'M A WHITE WOMAN AND NEWCOMER 
TO CANADA AND I LIVE IN WARD 
EIGHT ON TREATY SIX TERRITORY.
I'D LIKE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THIS
MOMENT AND GO FURTHER AND ACT 
QUICKLY.
I HOPE YOU WON'T MIND IF I TALK 
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LANGUAGE 
OF SAFETY AND THE WORK THAT IT 
DOES.
IN COLONIAL DISCOURSE STILL VERY
PREVALENT TODAY THE SAFETY OF 
CERTAIN PEOPLE IS USED TO 
JUSTIFY THE VIOLENT SUPPRESSION 
OF OTHER.
IT IS WHITE WOMEN LIKE ME AND 
WHITE CHILDREN WHO MUST BE 
PROTECTED ALONGSIDE LAND AND 
PROPERTY, AND THAT'S A 
PATRIARCHAL AND WHITE SUPREMIST 
MODEL.
WITH SAFETY IN RELAYING TO THE 
POLICE WE HAVE TO CAREFULLY 
INTERROGATE WHO WE'RE ACTUALLY 
PROTECTING AND WHO IS RARELY 
VULNERABLE TO VIOLENCE BEYOND 
NEE COLONIAL LOGICS.
WHILE I BELIEVE THAT THE STORIES
THAT WE HEAR FROM BLACK AND 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR 
OWN EXPERIENCE OF LACK OF SAFETY
SHOULD BE EVIDENCE ENOUGH.
I KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S HELPFUL TO
BE REMINDE OF WHAT WE KNOW FROM
THE RESEARCH.
SO IN STATISTICS CANADA SURVEY 
OF SAFETY IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
SPACES, THE VAST MAJORITY OF 
INCIDENTS OF VIOLENT CRIME 
REPORTED DID NOT COME TO THE 
ATTENTION OF POLICE, AND ONLY 5%
OF WOMEN STATED THAT POLICE 
FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MOST SERIOUS
INCIDENT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THEY 
EXPERIENCE.
QUEER FOLKS, WOMEN, AND PEOPLE 
WITH DISABILITIES, RACIALIZED 
WOMEN, AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN, 
GIRLS AND TWO SPIRIT PEOPLE ALL 
EXPERIENCE HIGHER LEVELS OF 
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, YET 
DESPITE THEIR HIGHER RATE OF 
VICTIMIZATION THESE FOLKS ARE 
NOT PROTECTED, ARE NOT SERVED, 
ARE NOT MADE TO FEEL SAFE BY THE
POLICE, AND ARE 
DISPROPORTIONATELY VICTIMIZED BY
PRACTICES SUCH AS CARDING AND 
THROUGH THE CRIMINALIZATION OF 
POVERTY.
STUDIES HAVE ALSO SHOWN THAT 
RACIALIZED WOMEN, SPECIFICALLY 
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN 
REPORT VIOLENCE -- WHEN THEY 
REPORT VIOLENCE TO THE POLICE, 
THEIR EXPERIENCE IS OFTEN TAKEN 
LESS SERIOUSLY WITHIN THE 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND 
THEIR PERPETRATORS ROUTINELY 
RECEIVE LESS HARSH PUNISHMENTS.
THESE EXAMPLES BRING INTO 
QUESTION THE EFFICACY OF THE 
POLICE IN MAKING LIVES SAFER FOR
THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE 
DISPROPORTIONATE LEVELS OF 
VIOLENCE.
IN OUR SOCIETY, IT REQUIRES US 
TO CONSIDER WHAT THE POLICE ARE 
ACTUALLY DOING, AND WHAT PURPOSE
THEY ACTUALLY SERVE.
FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, I 
HAVE A FATHER BACK HOME WHO 
LIVES WITH SEVERE MENTAL 
ILLNESS.
HE CAN BE PARANOID, DELUSIONAL 
AND DISTRUSTING OF AUTHORITY.
HE'S ALSO CAPABLE OF LOVING, AND
A FULL-TIME CAREGIVER TO MY 
MOTHER WHO IS LIVING WITH STAGE 
FOUR BREAST CANCER.
HE'S A VERY BIG MAN.
HE IS SIX FOOT TALL.
THOUGH MY FATHER IS INSULATED BY
HIS WHITENESS, HE'S PROTECTED BY
BEING A WHITE MAN, I LIVE IN 
FEAR OF HIM ENCOUNTERING THE 
POLICE AS WE ONCE DID WHEN I WAS
A CHILD WHEN HE BEGAN TO ACT 
ERRATICALLY DUE TO THE STRESS OF
A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP AND WAS 
ACCUSED OF BEING DRUNK AND HIGH 
AND FORCED OUT OF A CAR, AND 
LUCKILY MY MOM WAS ABLE TO 
INTERVENE.
IF MY FATHER WAS BLACK ROERN 
WHITE, THIS EXPERIENCE MAY HAVE 
RESULTED IN DEATH RATHER THAN 
TRAUMA.
I SHARE THIS STORY SIMPLY AS A 
REMINDER THAT FOR MANY OF US, 
THE POLICE ARE NOT AN ASSURANCE 
OF SAFETY.
LAST MONDAY REBECCA BLAKEY 
REMINDED THE COUNCIL OF 
EDMONTON.
POLICE IN A CRISIS CAN SAVE 
LIVES.
HIGH OF HERD COMMENTS ABOUT 
REFORMING THE POLICE, ABOUT THE 
NEED TO ACT SLOWLY, ABOUT THE 
NEED FOR EDUCATION.
ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN LISTENING TO
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN 
OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS THIS IS NOT 
A NEW PROBLEM, AND THAT THE 
SOLUTION IS NOT REFORM.
FOR THE COUNCIL TO ACT SLOWLY ON
THIS MATTER IS TO REINFORCE WHAT
MANY OF US ALREADY KNOW, THAT 
COLONIAL SYSTEMS VALUE CERTAIN 
LIVES MORE THAN OTHERS, AND ARE 
WILLING TO DO MORE TO PROTECT 
CERTAIN BODIES WHILE 
CRIMINALIZING OTHERS.
FINALLY, WE ARE MOVING INTO A 
TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED ECONOMIC 
HARDSHIP.
THIS PERIOD IS LIKELY TO 
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT THOSE 
WHO ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING 
VARIOUS ACCESS IN SERVICES WHO 
LIVE IN POVERTY, AND WHO ARE 
IMPACTED BY THE ONGOING TRAUMA 
OF COLONIALISM AND ANTI-BLACK 
p.
I URGE THE CITY TO DEFUND THE 
POLICE, AND HONESTLY, I AM IN 
FULL FAVOUR OF FULL ABOLITION OF
THE POLICE.
AND TO USE THAT FUNDING TO 
SUPPORT THE INITIATIVES ALREADY 
IDENTIFIED BY BLACK LIVES MATTER
EDMONTON THEY'VE GIVEN US A 
CREDIBLE PATH FORWARD.
PARTICULARLY I SUPPORT FREE 
PUBLIC TRANSPORT AFFORDABLE 
HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
AND A MUNICIPAL VERSION OF 211.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST ON THIS 
PANEL IS HEATHER MACKLEM. 
>> HI THERE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: YES, WE 
CAN.
GO AHEAD. 
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS HEATHER MACKLEM MY 
PRONOUNCE -- I'M A WHITE SETTLER
BORN RAISED AND EDUCATED ON 
TREATY SIX TERRITORY.
I LIVE DOWNTOWN AND I WORK FOR A
NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
I AM HERE TO ENDORSE THE CALL TO
DEFUND THE EDMONTON POLICE 
SERVICE, AND TO OFFER SOME 
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN 
MOVE FORWARD BY BETTER FUNDING 
AND VOICING THE AGENCIES AND 
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALREADY EXIST
TO SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE 
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS MOVEMENT 
SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE FUNDING THE 
FORMATION OF NEW AGENCIES AND 
ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE OUR CITY 
IN THE PLACE OF THE POLICE.
SO POLICE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 
100% OF THE INTAKE INTO THE 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT 
THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE OR 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE OUTCOMES OF 
THEIR DISCRIMINATORY INTAKE 
PROCESS.
THERE ARE?
FACTS AND STATISTICS THAT WE 
CANNOT DENY AND WE CANNOT LOOK 
AWAY.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 
OVERREPRESENTATION OF BLACK 
INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOUR
IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS ARE 
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 
CORRECTIONAL INVESTIGATOR ANNUAL
REPORT 2018-2019.
SO SINCE 2010 CORRECTIONS HAS 
REPORTED A DECREASE THIS THE 
WHITE POPULATION OF THE PRISON 
SYSTEM BY 23%.
WHILE THE INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS
OF THOSE SAME INSTITUTIONS ARE 
INCREASED BY 52%.
THE MUSLIM INMATE POPULATION HAS
INCREASED BY 74% SINCE 
2008-2009.
SO ALTHOUGH BLACK INMATES 
REPRESENT JUST 8% OF THE TOTAL 
INMATE POPULATION, THEY ACCOUNT 
FOR 37% OF ALL DISCRIMINATION 
COMPLAINTS WITHIN THE 
CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM FROM 2008 
HAD 2018.
THE INTAKE PROCESS IS BROKEN AND
THE POLICE ARE NOT HELD 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT 
THAT 47% OF CHARGES LAID BY 
E.P.S. ARE DISMISSED BY THE 
CROWN.
100% OF INTAKE, 47% OF CHARGES 
DROPPED, WELL, WHEN I WAS A 
CHEF, IF I HAD HAD 47% OF MY 
FOOD SENT BACK, I WOULD HAVE NOT
HAD A JOB, NOR SHOULD I.
A HUMAN LIFE IS A LOT MORE 
IMPORTANT, AND INVALUABLE THAN A
PLATE OF FOOD.
SO I FAIL TO SEE WHY POLICE 
OFFICERS ARE NOT HELD TO THE 
SAME STANDARDS AS OTHER 
INDUSTRIES.
IF ANY OTHER TRADE, OCCUPATION, 
OR PRACTICE HAD HAD AS HIGH OF A
FAILURE RATE, WE WOULD HAVE 
FOUND A WAY TO REPLACE IT A LONG
TIME AGO.
NOW IS THE TIME TO DEFUND AND 
DISMANTLE THE POLICE.
SO WHAT DO WE DO INSTEAD?
WELL, I THINK THAT A NON-POLICE 
NETWORK OF COMMUNITY SAFETY 
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT ALREADY 
EXISTS, AND WE COULD BE DOING A 
LOT MORE TO UTILIZE FUND AND 
EXPAND THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
LET'S LOOK TO THE JOURNEY OF A 
PERSON WHO EXPERIENCES 
CRIMINALIZATION AND 
INCARCERATION.
THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH MANY
PROFESSIONALS THERE ARE MANY 
PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE SYSTEM 
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CRIMINALIZED 
AND INSTITUTIONALIZED.
HOUSING COORDINATORS, THE MENTAL
HEALTH AND ADDICTION SPECIALIST,
THE FRONT LINE STAFF, DROPPIEN 
CENTRES, THE PROGRAM 
FACILITATORS, RESOURCE 
COORDINATORS, CRISIS AND SUPPORT
LINE OPERATORS, SYSTEMS 
NAVIGATORS, DONORS, FUNDERS, 
STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE COUNTLESS 
VOLUNTEERS WHO GIVE THEIR TIME 
TO OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE 
FIND THEMSELVES, TO SEE THEIR 
WORTH, THEIR VALUE, AND THEIR 
PLACE IN THE WORLD.
SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FIND 
THESE PEOPLE, YOU CAN FIND THEM 
AT PLACES LIKE THE ELIZABETH FRY
SOCIETY, THE BISSEL CENTRE, 
BOYLE-MCCAULEY, HOME CARE TRUST,
E HAD C, THE SEXUAL ASSAULT 
CENTRE OF EDMONTON, THE CENTRE 
TO END ALL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
LIVES IN TRANSITION, CANADIAN 
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, AND 
211, THE JOHN HOWARD SOCIETY, 
THE JOHN HUMPHREY SOCIETY, 
CREATING HOPE SOCIETY, THE 
INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF
ABORIGINAL WOMEN, OUR LOCAL 
NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRES, THE 
AFRICA CENTRE, THE CENTRE FOR 
RACE AND CULTURE, MUSTARD SEED, 
HOPE MISSION.
I CAN TALKED FOR 30 MINUTES HOW 
MANY ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY 
EXIST.
I ALSO THINK A GOOD PLACE TO 
START WOULD BE TO REDIRECT A 
LARGE AMOUNT OF POLICE FUNDING 
TO THE CRISIS DIVERSION TEAM RUN
BY THE CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH 
ASSOCIATION THROUGH 211.
THE TEAM AS IT IS RIGHT NOW IS 
SMALL, THE WAIT TIMES ARE LONG 
BEING AND THEY ARE LIMITED IN 
THEIR ABILITIES TO SERVE.
IF 211 HAD THE ABILITY TO EXPAND
THEIR TEAM BY ADDING MORE TO 
THEIR DISPATCH TEAM, BY HAVING 
THEIR OWN FLEET OF VANS WITH 
SOCIAL WORKERS AND HEALTHCARE 
PROFESSIONALS ON BOARD THEY 
WOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO MORE
CALLS THAN THEY ARE ABLE TO 
RESPOND TO NOW.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE CITY 
COUNCIL TO GET IN CONTACT WITH 
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR 
TIME TO SPEAK IN THESE HEARINGS,
TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE 
ORGANIZATIONS I HAVE LISTED, AND
MANY MORE THAT ALREADY EXIST, 
AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE 
THEIR LIVES TO SUPPORTING THE 
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
DEFUND THE POLICE.
INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BLACK
LIVES MATTER, BLACK TRANS LIVES 
MATTER.
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU 
VERY MUCH.
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF 
COUNCIL NOW FOR OUR PANELLISTS 
STARTING WITH COUNCILLOR 
WALTERS. 
>> THANK YOU Mr. MAYOR.
THANKS TO ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR 
BEING HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO START BY SAYING 
THAT THE REALITY THAT MANY OF 
OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SYSTEMS 
AND INSTITUTIONS WERE BUILT BY 
RACISTS AND A CULTURE OF WHITE 
SUPREMACY HAS BEEN VALIDATED 
MANY TIMES IN THESE HEARINGS, 
AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING I 
BELIEVE TO BE TRUE, WITHOUT A 
DOUBT.
THE PAIN AND FEAR THAT I HEAR 
THROUGH THESE HEARINGS IS ALSO 
VERY REAL AND VERY DISTURBING TO
ME.
AND AS COUNCILLOR PAQUETTE SAID 
EARLIER, WHERE AS A -- I GUESS 
AS A WHITE CITY COUNCILLOR, 
WHITE MALE CITY COUNCILLOR, 
WHERE CAN THIS LAND?
SO ONE OF THE PRIMARY ANSWERS 
PROVIDED TO THAT QUESTION IS THE
BLACK LIVES MATTER EDMONTON 
CHAPTER, A PLAN TO DEFUND THE 
POLICE.
AND SO Ms. YUE, I WANTED TO 
BEGIN WITH YOU, IF I MAY.
>> HI, YES. 
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE 
ACTION PLAN, WHICH I'M SURE YOU 
HAVE, IS THAT, IN FACT, OUR ONLY
ANSWER?
>> TO DEFUND THE POLICE?
>> YES. 
>> YES, IT IS MY BELIEF, AND I 
THINK IT'S --
>> IN ALL OF ITS PARTS?
SO I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE 
ACTION PLAN.
IS THAT -- IS THAT OUR ONLY 
ANSWER, OR IS THERE A VERSION OF
THAT THAT IS MORE REALISTIC IN 
THE SHORT TERM, IS CLEARER IN 
THE SHORT TERM?
WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS ITS 
ABOLISHED VERY RAPIDLY, SO I 
WANT TO ASK YOU IF THAT IS THE 
ONLY ANSWER. 
>> I DO BELIEVE THAT IS THE WAY 
FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT WE CAN GET REALLY 
CAUGHT UP IN THE LOGISTICS OF 
THINGS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO 
REMIND ALL THE COUNCILLORS THAT 
THERE ARE HUGE CONSEQUENCES TO 
OUR COMPLACENCY, AND TO TAKING 
THINGS SLOWLY.
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS LIVES ARE 
AT RISK, AND THAT'S SOMETHING 
THAT WE CAN NEVER ACCEPT AS 
COLLATERAL TO THE WAY OUR 
SYSTEMS WORK.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF 
RESEARCH, AND A LOT OF ACTION 
AROUND THE WORLD ON WHAT 
DEFUNDING THE POLICE CAN LOOK 
LIKE.
YOU SAID THAT BLACK LIVES 
MATTER, OF COURSE, HAS THEIR 
DEMANDS LAID OUT, AND I AM 
ABSOLUTELY IN FULL SUPPORT OF 
THE WORK THEY'VE DONE AND WHAT 
THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER.
BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR 
LOGISTICS, I THINK THERE ARE 
MANY, MANY, MANY RESOURCES 
AVAILABLE, AND DP150 IS A GREAT 
RESOURCE COMING OUT OF THE 
STATES OUT OF MINNEAPOLIS. 
>> YOU DO APPRECIATE, I PRESUME,
THAT WE LIKE IT OR NOT GET 
CAUGHT IN LOGISTICS. 
>> OF COURSE.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT 
THOSE LOGISTICS, IF YOU ARE NOT 
FIND BEING THEM HERE LOCALLY HAS
BEEN RESEARCHED AND PUT IN 
ACTION IN MANY OTHER COMMITTEES.
>> IF I COULD SHIFT TO 
Mrs. FROST, BECAUSE YOU HAD 
CITED YOUR BACKGROUND AS A 
RESEARCHER.
IT IS ALSO YOUR BELIEF THAT 
ABOLITION AND DISMANTLING VERSUS
RECONCILIATION, INNOVATION, 
DEMILITARIZATION, THERE AREN'T 
TWO PATHWAYS HERE.
SO ONE PATHWAY, I UNDERSTAND, 
FROM THE PLAN OF THE POLICE IS 
ABOLITION, AND OTHERS HAVE 
STARTED TO SUGGEST, THOUGH 
VAGUELY, BUT STILL AN IDEA OF 
RECONCILIATION, OF INNOVATION OF
POLICE, OF COMMUNITY SAFETY AND 
DEMILITARIZATION.
I'VE SEEN THE LATTER, IN OTHER 
CITIES WHO HAVE BEEN MORE ACTIVE
IN RESPONDING TO POLICE 
BRUTALITY IN THE PAST.
SO MAYBE, AGAIN, IS THERE ONLY 
ONE PATHWAY, OR IS THERE A FEW 
PATHWAYS FOR BODIES IN CHARGE OF
POLICE FINANCING TO CONSIDER?
>> OKAY.
SO WHAT I'LL SAY IS I PREVIOUSLY
WORKED AS A RESEARCHER.
I
>> I DO HAVE SYMPATHY AND 
UNDERSTANDING FOR THE FACT THAT 
IT TAKES TIME TO MAKE CHANGE AND
YOU HAVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
THAT YOU GO THROUGH THAT TAKE 
TIME.
WHAT I HAVE ALSO SAY IS WHAT WE 
HAVE SEEN RECENTLY WITHIN -- 
WITH THE COVID-19 RESPONSE IS 
WHEN THERE IS POLITICAL WILL, WE
CAN ACT QUICKLY, AND I THINK 
THAT IS THE POINT THAT REBECCA 
BLAKIE MADE LAST WEEK.
TO ADD TO THAT, I THINK THE 
PROBLEM WITH AN ARGUMENT FOR 
REFORM, THIS IS FROM MY 
BACKGROUND OF A SCHOLAR OF 
COLONIALISM AND COLONIAL 
SYSTEMS -- IS THAT IT'S VERY 
HARD TO REFORM A SYSTEM THAT IS 
EMBEDDED IN HISTORICAL LOGISTICS
OF COLONIALISM AND WHITE 
SUPREMACY.
WE CAN BUILD A DIFFERENT SYSTEM 
TO BUILD SAFETY AND SUPPORT 
PREVENTION.
AND HEATHER LISTED ALL THE 
ORGANIZATIONS IN YOUR COMMUNITY 
WHO ALREADY HAVE THEIR EXPERTISE
TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK THERE ARE 
OPPORTUNITIES TO CO-DESIGN WITH 
COMMUNITIES A VIABLE SOLUTION 
AND TO ACT QUICKLY IF WE DRAW ON
THE EXPERTISE ALREADY PRESENT 
AND WE'RE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, 
USE A COMMUNITY-CENTRED APPROACH
TO SOLVING THIS ISSUE, AND I DO 
THINK A LOT OF THE -- THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY BLACK 
LIVES MATTER EDMONTON ARE 
ACTUALLY A CREDIBLE WAY FORWARD,
AND WHERE THERE IS 
JURISDICTIONAL CREEP, I THINK 
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE 
CITY TO ACT AS A POWERFUL 
STAKEHOLDER TO THE PROVINCIAL 
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO 
MAKE A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR 
DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS AND 
DIFFERENT MODES OF SAFETY IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> I PRESUME I HAVE RUN OUT OF 
TIME, Mr. MAYOR. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  I'M AFRAID
SO.
>> YEAH, OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  BUT -- 
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWERS 
AND YOUR PRESENTATIONS. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  NEXT UP IS
COUNCILLOR PAQUETTE. 
>> THANK YOU, Mr. MAYOR, AND 
THANK YOU ALL PANELISTS AGAIN.
I WOULD ASK ALL OF YOU QUESTIONS
ALL DAY LONG, EXCEPT WE HAVE ONE
ROUND OF FIVE MINUTES.
SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO HELEN
FROST, IF THAT'S OKAY.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK I GUESS 
IT'S A COMPLEX QUESTION, AND I 
HOPE YOU CAN UNPACK THIS, BUT 
YOU TALKED ABOUT THESE COLONIAL 
STRUCTURES.
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE LISTENING IN
OR VAGUELY PAYING ATTENTION TO 
THIS DEBATE, THE STRUCTURE SEEMS
TO WORK.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE 
NEED TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE.
THEY JUST THINK THAT THERE IS 
A -- SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINING AND
WHY SHOULD WE THROW EVERYTHING 
OUT FOR SOME LOUD MOUTHS, RIGHT?
AND THAT'S THE PERSPECTIVE.
ANOTHER ASPECT, AND I'M GETTING 
TO MY QUESTION, BUT I HAVE TO 
BUILD IT.
THE OTHER ASPECT IS THAT AS 
ELECTED, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'LL 
KNOW THIS FROM YOUR STUDIES, 
ELECTED OFFICIALS, NO MATTER 
WHERE THEY ARE, THEY HAVE TO 
BALANCE THIS CONCEPT OF 
LEADERSHIP AND -- AND FOLLOWING 
THE WILL OF THEIR ELECTORS, AND 
IF THE MAJORITY ARE SATISFIED 
WITH THE STATUS QUO, IT PUTS 
THEM IN A BIT OF A QUANDARY.
WHERE DO THEY DRAW THE LINE ON 
LEADERSHIP AND WHERE DO THEY 
DRAW THE LINE ON LISTENING TO 
THE MAJORITY, EVEN IF IT'S AT 
THE EXPENSE OF THE MINORITY?
AND, AGAIN, I'M NOT ADDING A 
VALUE INTO THIS.
I'M JUST STATING THE SITUATION.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE GOT THOSE TWO 
IDEAS, AND THEN WE HAVE GOT THIS
THIRD ONE, WHERE THIS TAKES A 
MULTI-LEVEL GOVERNMENT APPROACH 
TO REALLY FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE 
THINGS, AND IF YOU HAVE AN 
IDEOLOGY OF A POPULIST LAW AND 
ORDER PLATFORM VERSUS AN 
IDEOLOGY OF LET'S DO WHAT'S MOST
EFFICIENT AND WORKS BEST FOR 
MOST PEOPLE PLATFORM, ONE IS A 
LOT MORE EASY TO SELL IN A 
POPULIST FASHION.
SO TAKE ALL THOSE CONCEPTS 
TOGETHER.
HOW DO YOU FIND THE WAY THROUGH?
>> I THINK THAT'S THE ROLE OF 
ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I'M SORRY TO BE -- LIKE, IT'S A 
LITTLE BIT -- 
>> NO, I AGREE. 
>> I AGREE. 
>> I THINK IT IS YOUR ROLE WITH 
THOSE SYSTEMS.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, YOU KNOW, 
AS SOMEONE WHO IS DEEPLY 
INTERESTED IN POLICY BUT ALSO IN
THE DISCOURSES OF DEMOCRACY, 
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS IN THIS 
PARTICULAR -- IN THIS PARTICULAR
CONTEXT, WHEN WE'RE THINKING 
ABOUT WHAT IS LEADERSHIP MEAN IN
OUR COMMUNITY, IF A SYSTEM NOT 
ONLY DOESN'T WORK FOR THOSE WHO 
ARE MOST MARGINALIZED IN THE 
COMMUNITY AND THE ARGUMENT I WAS
MAKING IS THOSE WHO MOST 
EXPERIENCE VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION
DO NOT FEEL SAFE AND ARE NOT 
MADE SAFE BY THE POLICE -- THEN 
WE NEED TO ASK WHAT -- WHAT IS A
SYSTEM THAT WILL WORK AND BE 
EFFECTIVE FOR EVERYONE.
AND SO YOU HAVE A CHOICE, I 
THINK, AS -- AS COUNCILLORS, AS 
LEADERS, AM I INTERESTED PURELY 
IN WHAT IS GOOD FOR THOSE WHO 
BENEFIT MOST FROM THE SYSTEMS IN
OUR SOCIETY OR DO I WANT A 
SOCIETY WHERE THOSE WHO ARE MOST
VULNERABLE, WHO EXPERIENCED THE 
HIGHEST LEVEL OF VULNERABLE 
VICTIMIZATION ARE MADE TO FEEL 
SAFE.
AND THAT IS AN ETHICAL CHOICE 
THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE FORWARD, 
NOT ONLY A POLITICAL ONE.
AND THAT'S -- I KNOW THAT'S NOT 
A REALLY STRATEGIC ANSWER, BUT, 
YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU ALL HAVE 
TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUR OWN 
DECISIONS AS WELL AS THOSE OF 
THE COMMUNITY, AND AS PUBLIC 
SERVANT,  I THINK WE SHOULD BE 
AWARE HOW TO MAKE LIVES AS SAFE 
AS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE 
MOST DISADVANTAGED IN OUR 
SOCIETIES.
>> I AGREE.
NOW, FINALLY, THIS IS A -- 
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY 
COMPLEX ISSUE, BUT YOU ARE -- 
YOUR CONTENTION AND THE 
CONTENTION OF MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY IS WE ALREADY HAVE
THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT
CAN DESIGN A FUNCTIONAL, 
ALTERNATIVE THAT ACTUALLY SERVES
THE PUBLIC BETTER EVEN THOUGH IT
MAY SOUND SCARY TO ABANDON WHAT 
WE KNOW, AND SO YOUR CONTENTION 
I THAT WE CAN BUILD THIS IN 
ORDER TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT 
JUST IS NOT EFFICIENT BUT IS 
VERY WELL-INTENTIONED, WITH 
WELL-INTENTIONED PEOPLE, BUT THE
SYSTEM ITSELF MAKES IT 
INEFFECTIVE AS A GOOD TOOL.
THAT WOULD BE YOUR CONTENTION, 
THAT WE COULD DO THIS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND I THINK THE THING I WANT TO 
ADD TO THAT IS NOT ONLY IS IT 
INEFFICIENT, IT'S COSTLY, AND 
FROM MY -- MY PERSPECTIVE AS A 
HOMEOWNER, AS A, YOU KNOW, A 
TAXPAYER, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING 
TO SEE MONEY BEING SPENT ON A 
SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE
INEFFECTIVE IN THE WORK THAT IT 
DOES, AND I AGREE, IT MAY BE -- 
MAY WELL BE WELL-INTENTIONED, 
BUT IT'S ECONOMICALLY 
INEFFECTIVE.
IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION,
FISCAL IRESPONSIBLE. 
>> OKAY.
I THINK I'M OUT OF TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  THANK YOU.
COUNCILLOR KNACK. 
>> THANK YOU, Mr. MAYOR, AND 
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE 
PANELISTS FOR SHARING YOUR 
COMMENTS TODAY.
SO Mr. MUKEEBI, IS THAT CORRECT?
DID IT PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY?
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  
Mr. MUKEEBI, SPEAKER NUMBER 
THREE, ARE YOU STILL THERE?
>> HE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ON 
THE CALL ANYMORE.
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  SORRY, 
COUNCILLOR KNACK. 
>> OKAY.
MOST OF MY QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
CAN I JUMP OFF AND I MIGHT NEED 
TO JUMP BACK ON IF POSSIBLE?
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  YEAH, 
SURE. 
>> THANK YOU. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  YEAH, I'LL
LET YOU RESET THERE.
COUNCILLOR HENDERSON. 
>> YEAH, I MIGHT NOT, BUT THANK 
YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  COUNCILLOR
HENDERSON, GO AHEAD. 
>> YEAH, THANKS.
I'M INTERESTED -- MAYBE I'LL ASK
Ms. FROST FIRST.
BECAUSE IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WHAT 
I'M -- YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M TRYING
TO THINK IN MY OWN MIND, 
ASSUMING THAT WE DO -- THAT -- 
TO RESTRUCTURE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE
THE STRUCTURE APART.
LET'S TAKE THAT AS A GIVEN.
I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY WILL, BUT
LET'S JUST TAKE IT AS A GIVEN 
FOR THE SAKE OF MY QUESTIONS.
THE -- THE QUESTION, THEN, IS 
WHAT DO WE RESTRUCTURE, WHAT ARE
WE TRYING TO DO WITH THE 
RESTRUCTURE, WHAT IS IT WE'RE 
TRYING TO PUT BACK IN PLACE?
AND I -- YOU KNOW, I THINK WE 
HAVE TALKED ABOUT SAFETY.
I THINK WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT 
MAKING SURE -- I THINK IT'S -- 
IT'S ABOUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT
NO ONE COMES TO HARM, AND 
CLEARLY THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE 
BEING HARMED RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED 
IN, IF WE'RE GOING TO DISMANTLE 
IT, I THINK IT'S NAIVE TO THINK 
THAT WE CANNOT CREATE SOMETHING 
NEW THAT ACTUALLY IS -- IS IN 
POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY 
COMES TO HARM.
AND -- AND I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY 
WHERE WE'RE PARTICLARLY FAILING
RIGHT NOW IS WITH OUR 
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, 
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY 
SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE 
BEING -- AND THERE MAYBE IS A 
BETTER WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT 
WE PROTECT THOSE FOLKS FROM 
HARM.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER PLACES WHERE
WE DO HARM TO EACH OTHER, THAT 
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE SOME
WAY TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO AND
DEAL WITH THAT ARE NOT ABOUT THE
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, THERE IS PEOPLE LIKE ME,
THAT LOOK LIKE ME, THAT ARE OUT 
THERE DOING HARM TO PEOPLE, AND 
I -- AND I -- YOU KNOW, I 
THINK -- THE INTERESTING 
QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS IF WE'RE
RESTRUCTURING, HOW DO WE 
RESTRUCTURE?
WHAT DO WE RESTRUCTURE WITH?
'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT CAN 
JUST BE HANDLED BY ALL OF THOSE 
AGENCIES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT
ARE WORKING WITH MARGINALIZED 
COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
SO DO YOU HAVE -- IT'S A LONG 
QUESTION.
ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT THAT 
RESTRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE, 'CAUSE I
THINK THAT HAS TO BE OUR 
ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE?
>> SO I FEEL LIKE I PROBABLY -- 
PROBABLY FOLKS ON THIS PANEL 
THAT ARE MORE AUTHORITATIVE AND 
HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN ME TO 
SPEAK ON THIS.
SO I'LL MAKE MY ANSWER PRETTY 
QUICK.
WHAT I -- WHAT I WOULD SAY IS 
THAT WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE 
RESEARCH IS THAT PREVENTION IS A
MUCH STRONGER WAY TO INTERVENE 
INTO VIOLENCE OF ALL SORTS OF IN
OUR SOCIETY THAN IS ENFORCEMENT.
SO WHATEVER THE LONG-TERM THING 
LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOCUSSING 
ON PREVENTION, REDUCING ECONOMIC
INEQUALITY, PROVIDING SERVICES 
AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, I THINK 
THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL FIRST STEP,
AND I THINK FOLKS UNDERSTANDABLY
HAVE MORE -- THEY NEED TO TALK 
ABOUT WHAT THE PRAGMATICS OF 
THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE.
>> YEAH, Ms. COSTAR, YOU WERE 
THE OTHER PERSON I WAS THINKING 
OF ASKING THAT QUESTION TOO, 
BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE SOME 
THINKING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
ANY THOUGHTS ON THE SAME 
QUESTION?
>> SO REALISTICALLY SPEAKING, 
YOU DON'T -- IF YOU ARE 
FOCUSSING ON A NEEDS-BASED 
SOCIETY, THEN YOU ARE TRYING TO 
ADDRESS AND MEET THOSE NEEDS.
IF WE SEE THAT THERE'S AN 
INCREASE IN VIOLENT ATTACKS, 
THEN WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE 
NIEDZ.
I HAVE HEARD ABOUT ABOUT 
WHITE-COLLAR CRIME AND SEXUAL 
ASSAULT AND WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC FINES, AND THE
MORE YOU REALLY TEASE OUT WHAT 
IS THE NEED AND WHAT IS GOING 
ON, THEN YOU CAN FIND A SOLUTION
THAT ADEQUATELY MEETS THAT.
RIGHT NOW, OUR EPS DOES NOT 
ADEQUATELY -- THEY RESPOND AFTER
VIOLENCE HAS OCCURRED.
THEY DON'T PREVENT VIOLENCE.
THE ONLY WAY THEY CLAIM TO 
PREVENT VIOLENCE IS BY BEING A 
THREATENING, CONTROLLING AND 
OPPRESSIVE FORCE SO PEOPLE NEVER
THINK OF VIOLENCE.
BUT THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY MAKING 
CHANGE.
THAT'S JUST REINFORCING THAT 
PEOPLE WILL NOT ACT IN CRIMINAL 
WAYS BECAUSE THEY WON'T GET 
CAUGHT.
THAT'S PUNITIVE, NOT 
RESTORATIVE, NOT TRANSFORMATIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
OKAY, WELL, THANKS FOR THAT.
I'LL CONTINUE TO PONDER THIS 
QUESTION.
IT'S HELPFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  THANK YOU.
COUNCILLOR KNACK, Mr. MUKEEBI IS
BACK ON THE CALL.
SO GO AHEAD. 
>> YES, THANK YOU.
SO Mr. MUKEEBI, YOU ARE THERE 
NOW?
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
>> YES, I AM.
>> OH, THANK YOU.
PERFECT.
SO I WAS TRYING TO JOT DOWN AS 
MUCH AS I COULD WHILE YOU WERE 
CHATTING, BUT IT WASN'T COMING 
THROUGH PERFECTLY CLEAR.
SO YOU MAY HAVE SAID IT IN YOUR 
PRESENTATION, BUT I MIGHT HAVE 
MISSED.
IT'S BECAUSE -- I HEARD -- THERE
WERE A COUPLE THINGS THAT I TOOK
AWAY FROM WHAT YOU WERE TALKING 
ABOUT.
YOU WERE ASKING THE QUESTION, 
HOW CAN POLICE STAY FOCUSSED ON 
THE SORT OF SERIOUS CRIME, LET 
COMMUNITY GROUPS FOCUS ON OTHER 
ISSUES BUT NEAR THE END, YOU HAD
BEEN TALKING ABOUT, I BELIEVE, 
THREE ITEMS, GOOD GOVERNANCE, 
TRANSPARENCY, AND 
ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND I -- I MIGHT HAVE MISSED, IF
THE YOU DID GET TO TALK ABOUT IT
OR MAYBE DIDN'T, WHAT -- WHAT 
THOSE LOOK LIKE TO YOU, WHAT -- 
WHAT DOES GOOD GOVERNANCE, 
TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
LOOK LIKE IN THIS NEW MODEL 
WHERE POLICE ARE GOING TO BE 
FOCUSSED ON THE SERIOUS ISSUES 
THAT YOU SAID IN THE COMMUNITY 
GROUPS FOCUSSED ON THE OTHERS.
HOW DO WE BEST DO THAT, IN YOUR 
MIND?
>> IN MY APPROACH, I WAS 
THINKING -- I WAS LOOKING AT 
HAVING THE POLICE SYSTEM WHEREBY
(INAUDI
(INAU
(INAUDIBLE).
[ AUDIODIFFICULTIES ]
[ AUDIO BREAKING UP ]
>> LIKE THE COPS WHO ARE -- WHO 
WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES, 
THEY DON'T GIVE THEM THE 
ACCOUNTABILITY -- TO EDMONTON 
PUBLIC SCHOOL AND ALL THAT.
SO WHERE DOES -- WHERE DOES THAT
INFORMATION GO?
A PARENT AS A BLACK CHILD, I'M 
JUST IMAGINING WHAT HAPPENS TO 
THE INFORMATION ABOUT MY CHILD?
DOES IT END UP IN THE JUSTICE 
SYSTEM?
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY 
SOME PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT 
(INAUDIBLE) WHICH IS WITHIN THE 
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
BECAUSE (INAUDIBLE).
WHY SHOULD WE KEEP ON PUTTING 
FINANCES IN SUCH AN INSTITUTION 
(INAUDIBLE) WITH THE PAST 
CENTURY?
WHERE WE SEEK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
ALL THE (INAUDIBLE).
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.
ALL THE INFORMATION WE PUT ON --
MAYBE ON A CENTRAL WEBSITE, BUT 
ACCESS THE INFORMATION, IT'S 
LIKE BASED ON RACE, AND THEN 
(INAIBLE).
SO HOW DO YOU HELP SOMEBODY -- 
IF YOU ARE A LAWYER, AND YOU 
HAVE TO BE ON THE BAR, YOU 
HAVE -- BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE 
WITH ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY AS TO 
THEIR ACTIONS.
IF THEY COME TO MY DOOR, I HAVE 
TO OPEN.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY 
MAY HAVE -- PICKING YOU UP 
(INAUDIBLE) AND CODE OF CONDUCT.
ALL THESE THINGS NEED TO BE 
LOOKED AT (INAUDIBLE). 
[ AUDIO BREAKING UP ]
>> GOOD GOVERNANCE, 
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND 
TRANSPARENCY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S ALL FOR ME, Mr. MAYOR.
>> Mayor Don Iveson:  THANK YOU.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
FOR MEMBERS OF THIS PANEL?
NOT SEEING ANY, MINE HAVE BEEN 
ASKED AND ADDRESSED.
SO THANK YOU.
I THINK WE WILL RECESS NOW THEN 
UNTIL PANEL 12, WHICH IS 
SCHEDULED FOR 3:45.
SO AT THAT TIME, IN ABOUT AN 
HOUR, FEEL FREE TO TUNE IN, AND 
AT EDMONTON.CA/MEETINGS, AND 
THANK YOU AGAIN ALL OF YOU FOR 
VERY THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS THIS 
AFTERNOON.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>>> OKAY.
WE'RE IN RECESS UNTIL 3:45.
THANKS.
CAPTIONING OF THIS MEETING IS
PROVIDED AS A COMMUNICATION
ACCESSIBILITY MEASURE AND IS NOT
INTENDED AS A VERBATIM
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
IF INACCURACIES OCCUR, IT MAY BE
DUE TO HUMAN ERROR, TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES OR AN INABILITY ON
THE PART OF THE WRITER TO HEAR
OR UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING
SAID.
WHILE BEST EFFORTS ARE MADE TO
DOCUMENT AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE
WHAT IS BEING SAID, THE CAPTIONS
CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS A
CERTIFIED ACCURATE RECORD OF THE
PROCEEDINGS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND WELCOME.
WE'LL ROLL CALL RIGHT AWAY FOR
SORRY WE'RE A COUPLE MINUTES
LATE GETTING BACK HERE BUT WE'LL
GET GOING WITH THE FINAL PANEL
RIGHT AWAY.
WE'LL ROLL CALL FIRST MEMBERS OF
COUNCIL, STARTING WITH
COUNCOUNCILLOR BANGA?
>> I'M HERE, Mr.
>> Mayor Iveson: MAYOR
COUNCILLOR CARTMELL?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> Mayor Iveson: COUNCILLOR
CATERINA?
COUNCILLOR CATERINA, ARE YOU
THERE?
I HEAR A VERY SMALL DOG BUT NOT
A COUNCILLOR CATERINA.
>> I'M HERE, Mr. MAYOR.
AND THAT WASN'T ME.
>> Mayor Iveson: NO JUDGMENT
EITHER WAY.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE
ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE SIZE OF
THE DOG EITHER.
COUNCILLOR DZIADYK?
>> I AM HERE.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU.
COUNCILLOR ESSLINGER?
>> PRESENT.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU.
COUNCILLOR HAMILTON?
>> PRESENT.
>> Mayor Iveson: COUNCILLOR
HENDERSON?
>> YEAH, I'M HERE.
>> Mayor Iveson: COUNCILLOR
KNACK?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M HERE.
>> Mayor Iveson: GOOD
AFTERNOON.
COUNCILLOR McKEEN?
>> I'M HERE, Mr.
>> Mayor Iveson: MAYOR
WELCOME, COUNCILLOR NICHOL?
>> PRESENT.
>> Mayor Iveson: COUNCILLOR
PAQUETTE?
>> I WOULD ASSUME CATERINA'S
BITE IS WORSE THAN HIS BARK.
I AM HERE.
>> Mayor Iveson: I MIGHT BE AN
EXPERT WITNESS IN --
ON THAT ONE.
COUNCILLOR WALTERS IS LAST BUT
NOT LEAST.
ARE YOU THERE?
>> I AM THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Iveson: EXCELLENT.
OKAY, SO WELCOME TO MEMBERS OF
COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC THAT HAVE JOINED US AS
WELL AS DELEGATIONS FROM
EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE,
EDMONTON POLICE COMMISSION AND
CITY ADMINISTRATION, WHO ARE
ALSO HERE IN PERSON TO LISTEN AS
WELL AS VIRTUALLY TUNED IN.
FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE HEARING,
I'LL EXPLAIN THE PUBLIC HEARING
PROCESS ON THE REFERRED MOTION
REGARDING THE EDMONTON POLICE
COMMISSION.
SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN PANELED HERE
AND WILL PRESENT TO COUNCIL IN
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE
REGISTERED.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN FIVE
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE CLERK WILL RUN A TIMER IN
THE ROOM BUT YOU MAY WISH TO
HAVE YOUR OWN TIMER TO PACE
YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.
ONCE YOU FINISH SPEAKING PLEASE
MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE BUT STAY ON
THE LINE AS COUNCIL MAY WISH TO
ASK YOU QUESTIONS.
AFTER ALL SPEAKERS HAVE MADE
THEIR PRESENTATIONS, EACH
COUNCILLOR WILL BE GIVEN FIVE
MINUTES TO ASK ONE ROUND OF
QUESTIONS IF THEY WISH.
AFTER EACH PANEL A SHORT RECESS
WILL BE CALLED TO ALLOW TO US
SET UP FOR THE NEXT PANEL OF
PRESENTERS.
YOU CAN USE THE LIVE STREAM ON
EDMONTON.CA.
THIS PROCESS WILL REQUIRE SOME
PATIENCE FOR EVERYONE TO
PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN THE
VIRTUAL MEETING.
AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE
TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
REFRAIN FROM USING THE CHAT
FUNCTION DURING THE MEETING AS
IT CAN CREATE ISSUES AND
FAIRNESS OF DECORUM IF ITS USED
WHILE SOMEONE ELSE IS TRYING TO
SPEAK AND IT CAN ALSO GLITCH UP
THE LIVE STREAM SO AGAIN PLEASE
REFRAIN FROM USING THE CHAT
FUNCTION.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO MUTE YOUR
MICROPHONE WHEN YOU'RE NOT
SPEAKING.
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
DOES HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO
FACILITATE PARTICIPANTS JOINING
THE PANEL AND BEING ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE.
SO IF YOU DO HAVE ANY ISSUES,
PLEASE REACH OUT USING THE
CONTACT INFORMATION PROVIDED IN
YOUR REGISTRATION.
A SPEAKERS LIST FOR EACH PANEL
WILL BE PROVIDED ON
EDMONTON.CA/MEETINGS FOR YOUR
REFERENCE AND WHAT I'LL DO NOW
IS CHECK IN BRIEFLY WITH EACH
ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN HEAR AND IF YOU SO
CHOOSE, SEE YOU.
AND ALSO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO
NOTE THE ORDER SO THAT AS THE
PERSON BEFORE YOU IS FINISHING
YOU CAN GET YOURSELF AND BE
READY TO READY TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER I UNDERSTAND
IS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Mayor Iveson: OKAY.
AND WE ALSO WERE EXPECTING
ELLIOTT ALLEN, BUT ELLIOTT IS
ALSO UNABLE TO JOIN US?
>> YEAH, THEY'VE WITHDRAWN THEIR
REGISTRATION.
>> Mayor Iveson: THIRD IS ELI
TOMPKINS, OR ELLIE?
>> HI, YES, I'M HERE.
>> Mayor Iveson: WELCOME.
IS IT ELI OR ELLIE?
>> IT'S ELI.
>> Mayor Iveson: SUPER.
I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, PLEASE
DO CORRECT ME ON ANY
PRONUNCIATION.
NEXT AFTER ELI IS MOLLY SWAIN.
IS MOLLY HERE?
THANK YOU.
NEXT IS EL CRERNENKOV.
>> I'M HERE THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Iveson: NEXT IS
VICTORIA de JONG WHO HAS NOT
CHECKED IN YET SO WE'LL SEE.
PERHAPS VISIBILITY WILL BE ABLE
TO JOIN US.
NEXT IS HANNAH BOYD.
NEXT IS KRISTI MORIN FROM ARTS
ON THE AVE.
>> IT'S CHRISTIE AND I'M JUST
SPEAKING AS CHRISTIE.
>> Mayor Iveson: OH, JUST
CHRISTIE.
GOT 'YA.
>> AND THANKS.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU.
THEN SPEAKER NUMBER # WAS TO
HAVE BEEN JORDANA GALLONBRA BUT
THAT SPEAKER HAS WITHDRAWN.
NEXT IS SHANEY MARAWIRA.
>> HI, IT'S SHINY.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
NEXT IS ROHIT GILL?
>> HI, I'M HERE.
>> WELCOME.
>> Mayor Iveson: NEXT IS ALI
SITTER.
>> THEY DID NOT CHECK IN.
>> Mayor Iveson: HAS NOT
CHECKED IN YET.
NEXT IS FRANK PAGE.
>> HELLO.
>> Mayor Iveson: HI THERE.
AND NEXT IS MARY HOWE.
>> THEY ALSO HAVE NOT CHECKED
IN.
>> Mayor Iveson: OKAY.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS
BRITTANY RUDEI.
>> I'M HERE, THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Iveson: YOU'LL EACH
HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND IF SOME OF
THE FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T CHECKED IN
YET ARE ABLE TO JOIN US WE'LL DO
OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THEM AND
SCAASI SAID STAND BY BECAUSE
THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS AT THE
END.
WE'RE LIKELY TO CONTINUE
DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER
TUESDAY AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING,
AND I WILL ASK COUNCILLORS FOR A
MOTION TO MAKE SOME SCHEDULE
ADJUSTMENTS TO NEXT WEEK TO MAKE
THAT POSSIBLE BEFORE WE CONCLUDE
TODAY'S MEETING BUT WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO GET ALL THAT DONE BEFORE
5:30, I HOPE.
ANYWAY, WE'LL START WITH ELI.
WELCOME.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.%
>> HI, EVERYONE.
I'M ELI.
I'M 14.
I USE HE, THEY, SHE PRONOUNS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WE ARE ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY,
CONCERN TO THE CREE, SATO,
BLACKFOOT, DENE AND DAKODA
SIOUX.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FIRST NATIONS
FOR CENTURIES I'M HERE IN FAVOR
OF THIS MOTION.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY
PEOPLE ALREADY.
FOR PART OF MY TIME TODAY I'LL
BE TELLING A STORY ABOUT A
MACHINE WHO GOT ARRESTED.
MY MOM, MY SISTER AND I TOLD THE
POLICE ABOUT A CRIME THAT THIS
MAN COMMITTED.
WE WERE CLOSE TO THIS MAN AND
TELLING THE POLICE WAS NOT OUR
FIRST CHOICE.
THIS MAN TO BE INVESTIGATED THEY
TOOK AWAY HIS PHONE AND LAPTOP
SO ALL OF HIS FORMS OF
COMMUNICATION WERE TAKEN AWAY.
THEY KEPT HIM AT THE POLICE
STATION FOR ONE NIGHT AND SENT
HIM HOME THE NEXT DAY.
THE DAY AFTER THAT, MY MOM, MY
SISTER AND I GOT BROUGHT TO THE
ZEBRA CENTER WHERE I MADE A
STATEMENT ABOUT THIS MAN.
THE LADIES THAT I WAS TALKING TO
ASKED MY MOM, MY SISTER AND ME
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT THIS MAN, BECAUSE WE
WERE CLOSE TO HIM.
WE TOLD HER THAT THIS MAN HAS A
HISTORY OF SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND
MAJOR DEPRESSION.
A FULL WEEK WENT BY OF KNOWING
THIS MAN HAD NO COMMUNICATION
WITH ANYONE AND NO ONE HAD GIVEN
US ANY INFORMATION, SO WE
DECIDED TO eMAIL THE OFFICER
IN CHARGE ND ASKED THEM TO SEND
SOMEONE TO THE HOUSE TO CHECK UP
ON HIM, EVEN THOUGH THAT WASN'T
THEIR JOB.
AN OFFICER CAME TO THE HOUSE AND
RANG THE DOORBELL BUT NO ONE
ANSWERED SO THE OFFICER WENT TO
THE HOUSE AND PHONED PAPERS AND
NOTES AND A LOG ON THE TABLE AND
ALSO WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND
FOUND THIS MAN'S DEAD BODY.
THIS MAN IS MY FATHER.
WITH STILL DON'T KNOW IT TO THIS
DAY IF MY DAD WAS GIVEN SUPPORT
OR IF ANYONE CAME TO THE HOUSE.
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE
INFORMATION THAT WE GAVE TO THE
LADY AT THE ZEBRA CENTER WAS
PASSED ON.
I'M TRYING TO GET THE STORY
TODAY BECAUSE I WANT AT LEAST 70
MINISTERS OF THE MONEY THAT GOES
TO EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE TO BE
PUT INTO BETTER THINGS.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO EVEN 10% OF
THAT MONEY WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM
THEM.
I WOULD SAY THAT EVERY PERSON IN
EDMONTON HAS AN IDEA ABOUT WHERE
THEIR TAX DOLLARS COULD GO.
A FEW OF THOSE IDEAS WHERE THIS
MAN COULD GO ARE GETTING POLICE
OFFICERS FAIR DE-ESCALATION
TRAINING, PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS
PEOPLE MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS
ACCESS TO SUICIDE PREVENTION,
CLIMATE CHANGE PREVENTION,
THAT'S JUST A FEW.
NEXT, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD HUNDREDS
UPON THOUSANDS OF TIMES.
THE POLICE DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE,
LGBTQ2+ PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF
COLOUR.
AS THE EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE
HAS HEARD WAY TOO MANY TIMES,
THEIR WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO
CHANGE.
THEY HAVE APOLOGIZED MANY TIMES
BUT THEIR ACTIONS NEVER CHANGE.
AS A 14-YEAR-OLD CREE
TRANSPERSON, I AM A FREE TRADE
TO HAVE ANY INTERACTION WITH
POLICE, ANYTIME I SEE ANY SORT
OF POLICE OFFICER, I GET AFRAID
AND AVOID THEM.
THAT INCLUDES IF I'M IN DANGER
OR NEED HELP FROM THE POLICE.
I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ME
AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO
BE TRYING TO PERSUADE YOU TO
MAKE CHANGES IN THE EDMONTON
POLICE SERVICE.
I HOPE THAT WHAT I'VE SAID TODAY
WILL PERSUADE YOU.
PLEASE PASS THIS MOTION.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME
TODAY.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANKS, ELI.
NEXT IS MOLLY SWAIN.
>> I'M A METIS WOMAN -- HERE IN
EDMONTON, A RESIDENT OF WARD 7
AND A PH.D. STUDENT FOR METIS
POLITICAL HISTORY.
SO I HEARD FROM BOTH COUNCILLORS
AND SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES OVERT
PAST TWO WEEKS THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION BASED
APPROACHES TO THE ISSUE OF
POLICING IN EDMONTON, AND I
AGREE.
I JOINED MANY OTHER EDMONTONIANS
IN ENCOURAGING CITY COUNCIL TO
TAKE UP AND ENGAGE WITH THE
DECADES OF NATURAL GASSISM
LITERATURE THAT ALREADY EXIST
AND TO REACH OUT TO ABOLITIONIST
ORGANIZEDDERS ESPECIALLY...
LGBTQ2S PLUS ORGANIZERS RATHER
THAN CONSULTING WITH POLICE.
POLICE ADVISING ON AND
INVESTIGATING LEADS TO
CONCLUSIONS OF A ELECTRICAL OF
WRONGDOING ON THE PART OF POLICE
WHICH WE'VE SEEN AGAIN AND AGAIN
ON BEHALF OF THE CONTINENT.
IN ALBERTA, ON THE ALBERTA
SERIOUS INCIDENCE RESPONSE TEAM
WHICH IS THE SUPPOSEDLY
INDEPENDENT BODY THAT
INVESTIGATES COMPLAINTS OF
POLICE VIOLENCE AND MISCONDUCT,
100% OF THE INVESTIGATORS ARE
FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
WE CANNOT TRUST COPS OR FORMER
COPS TO BE INDEPENDENT
ADJUDICATORS OF THE UTILITY OF
POLICING.
ANYTHING THAT EXPANDS THE REACH,
BUDGET OR POWERS OF THE POLICE
MUST BE AVOIDED IF WE ARE TO SEE
ANY REAL AND LASTING CHANGE AND
THAT INCLUDES ENGAGING WITH THEM
AS CONSULTANTS.
THESE SAME LOGICS THAT UNDERPIN
POLICING ARE THE BASIS OF THE
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM
IN EDMONTON SCHOOLS.
THE SRO PROGRAM IS SECRETIVE AND
UNTRANSPARENT IN BOTH ITS
INTENTIONS AND ACTIONS AND THE
FEEL GOOD RHETORIC OF YOUTH PART
AREN'T REFLECTED BY EITHER
EVIDENCE OR WHAT WE KNOW LITTLE
PUBLICLY ABOUT THE RORQUE AND
TACTICS OF SROs.
INSTEAD WHAT WE DO SEE IS THE
ACTIVE CRIMINALIZATION OF OUR
CHILDREN IN WAYS THAT TRAUMATIZE
AND ATTRACT THEIR CAPACITY TO
FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTABLE IN
THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND
THE CASE OF COPS WHO COMMIT
MISCONDUCT IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE HEAR SROs FORCE CHILDREN TO
SPEND TIME LABOURING OR UNDER
THE SURVEILLANCE OF OFFICERS.
THEY SET UP EXTINCTION TO PUNISH
GROUP OF STUDENTS LIKE THOSE WHO
MIGHT VAIN.
THEY SOMETIMES COERCE AND
ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO SNITCH ON
ONE ANOTHER'S BEHAVIOUR DEER
THESE ARE BLATANTLY UNETHICAL
CRIMINALIZATION TACKICS THAT ARE
FOCUSED OVERWHELMINGLY ON LOW
INCOME AND BIPOP CHILDREN.
SIMPLY BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE
AT THE WRONG PLACE CAN HEED TO
CRIMINALIZATION OR PUNISHMENT BY
PEOPLE WITH GUNS WHO ARE NOT CAN
THE ACCOUNTABLE TO STUDENTS OR
THEIR FAMILIES.
IT'S BECOME INCREASINGLY CLEAR
THAT SROs ARE DANGEROUS COPS.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PUBLIC
INSTANCES OF SROs ASSAULTING
PEOPLE IN THE POSITION.
DAN WILLIAMS WAS FOUND GUILTY OF
KICKING A WOMAN IN THE HEAD
AFTER AN "ANGRY RESPONSE" IN
2005.
HE WAS AN SRO AT THE TIME.
PEPPER SPRAYING HIM, PUTTING HIM
IN A PROHIBITED HEAD LOCK,
PEPPER SPRAYING HIM A SECOND
TIME AND SHOVING HIM TO THE
GROUND.
THEY HAVE PERFORMED ACTIONS
LEADING TO A DEATH IN CUSTODY...
AND THE SWEAT BOX CASE WHERE
THREE OFFICERS PICKED UP NINE
HOMELESS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, KEPT
THEM IN THE BACK OF A SWELTERING
VAN FOR HOURS AND THEN DUMPED
THEM AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE
CITY.
BOTH WERE SROs AT THE TIME OF
THE INVESTIGATION.
CONSIDERING HOW INFREQUENTLY
COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE AND
SROs ARE LODGED THESE STORIES
ARE DAMNING AND LIKELY JUST THE
TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
WE ALSO SEE A DEEPLY DISTURBING
TREND OF OFFICERS WHO ARE UNDER
INVESTIGATION FOR VIOLENCE AND
MISCONDUCT CONTINUING AS SROs
AS SEEMS TO BE THE CASE WITH
WILLIAMS, SADER AND HAS HADR US.
YESTERDAY'S VOTE TO NOT SUSPEND
THE SRO PROGRAM IS INCREDIBLY
DISAPPOINTING.
HOWEVER, THAT VOTE IN
CONJUNCTION WITH TRUSTEE JOHN
ER'S HORRIBLY RACENT
ASSERTION --
IS INDICATIVE OF TWO THINGS,
BOTH THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM
PERMEATES ALL LEVELS OF
DECISIONMAKING RELATED TO THE
POLICE AND D TO THE MAINTENANCE
OF THE CANADIAN STATE AND THAT
TRUSTEES AND STICK MAY GOERS
GENERALLY ACTUALLY DON'T OWN
KNOW WHAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE
FOR.
WHILE THE ESTB MAY BE VOTE TODAY
CONTINUE FUNDING THE SRO
PROGRAM, CITY COUNCIL CAN STILL
TAKE A STAND BY DEFUNDING SROs
RIGHT AWAY AND TAKING A BLACK
LIVES MATTER AGAINST OTHER
CRUCIAL SUGGESTIONS TOWARDS THE
ABOLITION OF POLICING AND
BUILDING UP OF GROUND-UP
COMMUNITY SAFETY.
AS WE LOOK TO FIND MORE DATA
ABOUT POLICING IN EDMONTON WE
MUST ENSURE IT'S NONPOLICE WHO
ARE DOING THAT INVESTIGATE AND
RESEARCH.
I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE
YESTERDAY'S BOARD VOTE NOT AS
JUSTIFICATION OR PERMISSION TO
MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO BUT
PERMISSION TO DEFUND THE POLICE
AND ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACISM
IN EDMONTON'S GOVERNING BODIES
IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS LCHERNENKOTFF.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN YOU SEE THE SIDES?
>> Mayor Iveson: UM, NOT SURE
IF WE CAN YET.
I THINK THE CLERKS ARE
PRESENTING THE SLIDES ON YOUR
BEHALF.
YES, WE CAN NOW.
>> HAVE YOU GOT THE FIRST ONE?
>> Mayor Iveson: ALL RIGHT.
>> I'LL LET THEM KNOW WHEN TO
CHANGE.
THANK YOU.
I'M A CHANGE MANAGEMENT
PROFESSIONAL AND A 35 YEAR
RESIDENT OF ALLEN DALE.
I RARELY IF EVER HAVE HAD
CONTACT WITH EDMONTON CITY
POLICE.
I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF AN
IDEALIST, MY WORK IS TO MAKE
THINGS HAPPEN IN ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED.
SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE ARE IN A MOMENT, A MOMENT OF
CHANGE.
AND I BELIEVE IF YOU MISS THIS
MOMENT, YOU WON'T HAVE CONTROL
OVER THE DIRECTION OF ANOTHER.
CHANGE WILL COME.
IT ALWAYS DOES.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, THE NEXT
GENERATION WILL ENSURE THAT.
THE QUESTION IS WILL YOU BE A
PART OF IT OR WILL THE CHANGE
HAPPEN AROUND YOU?
SLIDE, PLEASE.
I'M GRADDIFIED TO WORK WITH SOME
OF THE BEST CHANGE MANAGERS IN
THE WORLD.
THEY WILL TELL YOU AND I WILL
TELL YOU CULTURE EATS POLICY FOR
BREAKFAST.
SLIDE, PLEASE.
THAT MEANS THAT IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHAT RULES YOU HAVE, WHAT
LAWS OR REGULATIONS YOU HAVE IN
PLACE AND AN ENTRENCHED CULTURE
WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO DO
WHAT IT WANTS TO KEEP THE
CULTURE ALIVE.
CHIEF McFEE ATTEMPTED TO ALTER
THIS CHANGE MANAGEMENT TRUISM BY
SAYING "CHANGE STRUCTURE FIRST
AND CULTURE AUTOMATICALLY GOES
WITH THE STRUCTURE".
HOWEVER, CHIEF McPHEE ALSO
SAID CHANGE MANAGEMENT IS MORE
SUCCESSFUL WHEN THERE IS A SHOCK
TO THE SYSTEM.
HE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
CHANGE MANAGEMENT HAS PROVEN
THAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKENS ARE
AMAZINGLY RESILIENT, A 30%
BUDGET SHOCK COULD BE EXTREMELY
EFFECTIVE IN CREATING CHANGE,
IMPROVING CULTURE, BUILDING
AGILITY AND INNOVATION IN THE
EMS.
IT COULD MOVE THE ORGANIZATION
TOWARDS THE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN
EXPRESSED HERE.
THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT EITHER
FOR OR AGAINST THE POLICE.
THIS IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
TELLING YOU DESPERATELY, BEGGING
YOU TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
ELIMINATE PUBLIC HARM.
CAN EPS ALONE DO THIS?
BUDGES ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS.
DO WE TOLERATE HARM?
AS COUNCIL YOU HAVE BEEN THE
VERY DIFFICULT OF TASK OF
CHOOSING WHAT THE BALANCE SHOULD
BE AND TO CREATE THE BUY-IN
ENGAGEMENT NEEDED TO BETTER THE
SYSTEM.
LANGUAGE IS EXTREMELY POWERFUL
IN MAKING CHANGE.
SLIDE PLEASE.
LET'S NOT ABOUT RIGHT FUNDING
EPS.
THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM WILL
NOT RESOLVE IT.
I AM PERSONALLY AWARE THAT EPS
HAS ASKED US TO THROW MONEY AT
THE PROBLEM SINCE THE '80s.
IT'S PAST TIME FOR EPS TO
INNOVATE.
SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE HAVE TWO CONFLICTING ISSUES
HERE.
EPS IS THE TOOL THAT WE
CURRENTLY USE TO PROBLEM SOLVE
SAFETY ISSUES IN EDMONTON.
BUT EPS IS TRAINED TO CONTROL
ITS USE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
DO YOU CONTROL PUBLIC SAFETY?
OR DO YOU RESOLVE PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES?
THESE MANDATES REQUIRE TWO
DIFFERENT CULTURES.
WHEN I DID MY RESEARCH AND
TALKED TO OTHERS ABOUT EPS, I
WAS ACTUALLY HORRIFIED BY THE
SPECIFIC INCIDENTS THAT CAME TO
LIGHT.
POWER OVER OTHERS IS
INTOXICATING.
WE NEED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT
CULTURE THAT ADDRESSES COMMUNITY
PROBLEMS, A CULTURE THAT
BALANCES THE CULTURE OF EPS WITH
A CULTURE THAT BUILDS TRUST WITH
EDMONTONIANS.
CHANGE MANAGEMENT WILL TELL YOU
THAT CONTROLLING OTHERS TO
RESOLVE EVERY SITUATION WILL
FAIL.
THE ONLY OPTION WHEN PROBLEMS
ARISE THAT EDMONTONIANS ARE
AWARE OF IS TO CALL THE POLICE.
LET'S GIVE THEM OTHER OPTIONS.
LET'S EDUCATE THEM.
DE-ESCALATIONS REQUIRE
PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE A
DIFFERENT FOCUS, A CULTURE THAT
SEES SHADES OF GRAY, NOT JUST
BLACK AND WHITE, GOOD AND BAD.
IT NEEDS A CULTURE OF PROBLEM
SOLVING.
ARE POLICE NEEDED?
YES.
ARE THEY APPROPRIATE FOR ALL THE
TASKS THEY DO NOW?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE NEED CHANGE IN THE PEOPLE WHO
RESPOND TO 30 TO 50 OF THE CALLS
THAT EPS CURRENTLY TAKES, THAT
REQUIRE OTHER TYPES OF
RESOURCES.
WE ARE IN THE MOMENT.
WE NEED TO BUILD TRUST WITH OUR
COMMUNITY AND CREATE COMMUNITY
PEACEKEEPING, NOT JUST POLICING,
AS A GENERAL RESPONSE.
SLIDE, PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
I'VE BEEN ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO
SEE COUNCILLOR PAQUETTE,
McKEEN, HENDERSON, COUNCILLOR
BANGA --
ESPECIALLY COUNCILLOR BANGA
ALONG WITH OUR IMPRESSIVE MAYOR
DON IVESON THAT ARE ACTIVELY
BEING ENGAGED IN THESE SESSIONS
AND SEEKING ACTION ITEMS TO
START TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
MY APOLGIES TO ANY OTHER
ENGAGED COUNCILLORS THAT I MAY
HAVE MISSED.
IN CLOSING NOW IS THE TIME TO
INNOVATE, NOW IS THE TIME TO
MAKE CHANGE.
WHILE YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE
TO.
WE ARE IN THE MOMENT.
LAST SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU.
I'M AFRAID YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.
>> NO PROBLEM.
THE LAST SLIDE WILL BE THERE.
THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU.
NEXT IS VICTORIA de JONG.
OH, RIGHT, WE'LL NEVER KNOW
BECAUSE SHE'S NOT ABLE TO JOIN
US.
NEXT IS HANNAH BOYD, THEN.
>> HI, I'M HERE.
>> SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO LISTEN TO ME TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON AN
EXPERIENCE OF MY OWN WITH EPS
AND WHY I DON'T BELIEVE
DEFUNDING OR ABOLISHING THE
POLICE WILL SOLVE ANY ISSUES AND
I HAVE SOME IDEAS TOO OF WHAT
KIND OF THINGS WE COULD DO
INSTEAD.
EDMONTON IS THE FASTEST GROWING
MAJOR CITY IN CANADA.
ISN'T THAT AWESOME FOR US.
BUT AS OUR CITY GROWS, SO DOES
OUR NEED FOR POLICE.
IN THE YEAR 2017, THERE WAS A 3%
INCREASE IN 9-1-1 CALLS AND
VIOLENT CRIME VICTIMIZATION
INCREASED BY A WHOPPING 8.9%.
DECREASING/DEFUNDING THE POLICE
BUDGET WILL DECREASE RESPONSE
TIMES AND ENDANGER CITIZENS.
WITHOUT POLICE AT ALL, SOME
PEOPLE MAY TURN TO VIOLENT
VIGILANTE RESPONSES.
I WORK NEXT DOOR TO A PHARMACY
THAT WAS ROBBED LAST YEAR AT
GUNPOINT.
I WAS ABLE TO CALL 9-1-1 AND THE
POLICE RESPONDED QUICKLY AND
PROFESSIONALLY.
THE DISPATCHER WAS ABLE TO KEEP
ME CALM WHILE WAITING FOR THE
PLUS TO COME.
AND ALTHOUGH THE GUNMAN FLED THE
SCENE, THEY WERE LATER ABLE TO
APPREHEND HIM, THEREBY
PREVENTING FURTHER CRIME AND
TRAUMA.
NOW, THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE
TURNED OUT MUCH MORE DIFFERENT,
BUT IT NEEDED --
DEFINITELY NEEDED PROFESSIONAL
INTERVENTION.
AND I BELIEVE IN THIS CASE THE
POLICE WERE THE BEST SUITED TO
THIS RESPONSE.
AND WHAT ABOUT CASES WHERE
POLICE SHOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TO
RESPOND?
ONE POINT THAT IS BROUGHT UP IN
THE PRO-DEFUND POLICE PLATFORMS
IS THAT WE SHOULD REINVEST MONEY
FROM DEFUNDING POLICE UNTIL
SOCIAL SERVICES FOR MENTAL
HEALTH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
HOMELESSNESS, SOMETHING THAT
I'VE LEARNED WHILE RESEVERALLING
THE EPS IS WE HAVE SOME
MULTIDISCIPLINARY UNITS SUCH AS
PACT.
PACT PAIRS POLICE WITH MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
THIS ENSURES SIT SET SINCE GET
THE HELP THEY NEED WHILE THE
MENTAL PROFESSIONAL HAS HELP IF
THEY NEED T NOT ONLY DOES THIS
PUT MORE RISK ON THE SOLO
OFFICER BUT IT LEADS TO LESS
ACCOUNTABILITY.
POLICE WORKING AS PARTNERS AND
PERHAPS EVEN MORE MULTI
DISCIPLINARY UNITS WILL BRING
ABOUT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
POLICE ACTIONS.
IF WE INVEST IN MORE PROGRAMS
LIKE PACK, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
MORE PROPERLY ASSESS AN APPROACH
CRISIS WITHOUT FORCE AND CAN
ENSURE PROPER HEALTH IS GIVEN.
INSTEAD OF PITTING COMMUNITIES
AGAINST POLICE AND VICE VERSA,
WE SHOULD SHIFT TOWARDS MORE
COMMUNITY POLICING.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW POLICE
CAN SERVE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES
AND ADAPT OUR POLICING TOWARDS
THAT.
IF WE CREATE SPECIAL LIAISON
UNITS THAT ARE MORE INVOLVED
WITH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES,
WE CAN REDUCE PROFILING AND
POLICE FEAR AND BUILD BETTER
RELATIONSHIPS WITH POLICE.
INVOLVING YOUTH IN POLICE
PROGRAMS SUCH ASIAL'S YARD
PROGRAM, YOUTH AT RISK
DEVELOPMENT, WILL HELP SHIFT
TOWARDS A PROACTIVE AND
PREVENTATIVE POLICE FORCE.
ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS TAKE
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH
COST MONEY.
SO RATHER THAN DEFUND POLICE, I
PROPOSE WE DIVERSIFY THE BUDGET
TOWARDS MORE OF THESE PROGRAMS.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE EDMONTON
POLICE SERVICE AND ALL THAT THEY
DO, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT
EVOLVE INTO SOMETHING THAT WOULD
BE EVEN BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU.
NEXT IS CHRISTIE MORIN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
NICE TO SEE YOU, MAYOR AND
COUNCIL.
I AM A RESIDENT IN EASTWOOD FOR
THE LAST 26 YEARS AND OUR FAMILY
IDENTIFIES AS A METIS FAMILY IN
THIS COMMUNITY.
WE ARE VERY, VERY INDICATED
ABOUT THE NEW COMMUNITY POLICING
MODEL THAT HAS COME IN THE LAST
THREE YEARS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE UPTAKE
WITH COMMUNITY ACTUALLY
CONNECTING WITH POLICE IN SO
MANY DIFFERENT AREAS.
I'M JUST GOING TO LIST A FEW OF
THEM BECAUSE I WAS SITTING AND I
JUST SORT OF CAME UP WITH A FEW
THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY, I
THINK --
SO HERE WE GO.
THE LIST IS I SIT ON THE BOARD
FOR THE ALBERTA BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION, THE POLICE WORK
WITH THE BUSINESSES TO CREATE AN
INITIATIVE CALLED BUSINESSES
TOGETHER WHICH IS WORKING ON
BLOCKS TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO
CREATE EXTRAORDINARY SAFETY
TOGETHER AS NEIGHBORS IN
BUSINESSES SO THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY WATCH OUT FOR EACH
OTHER, BE ABLE TO PROBLEM SOLVE
TOGETHER, COME UP WITH GREAT
CELEBRATION PIECES AND WAYS TO
BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AS
UNITS AND COMMUNICATION.
ON 118th AVENUE, IT'S 27
BLOCKS OF REAL ESTATE SO IT'S
NOT LIKE WE'RE IN A MALL AND SO
THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO WORK
WITH US TO FIND WAYS TO
COMMUNICATE AMONGST THE
BUSINESSES, WHICH REALLY
SUPPORTED THE BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION IN TRYING TO FIND
WAYS TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR
GOALS IN CREATING A MORE
PROSPEROUS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
AS WELL.
SO WE ALSO HAVE THE DEEPFREEZE
FESTIVAL, THE POLICE COME OUT,
THEY'RE PART OF A DEEPFREEZE
RACES, THEY'RE PART OF OUR
ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS WITH THE
KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY UNIQUE
AS WE ARE A VULNERABLE COMMUNITY
AND WE HAVE A REAL WONDERFUL
DIVERSE AND RICHNESS TO IT SO
POLICE ARE VERY ENGAGED IN ALL
LEVELS WITH US.
WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THE POLICE
HAVE MET EVERY TASK NEEDED IN
OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE NEW
COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL HAS
REALLY BEEN FANTASTIC.
COPS AT THE CARROT, WE CAN
MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH POLICE AT
THE CARROT.
JUST BEFORE COVID, WE HAD 53
PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUND AND
ETHNICITIES COMING TOGETHER TO
PROBLEM SOLVE BACK ALLEY
PROBLEMS, LOTS OF LOTS OF
PROBLEMS WITH BREAK AND ENTERS,
THEFT AND UNTIL YOU'VE ACTUALLY
LIVED IT YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW
FANTASTIC IT IS TO BE ABLE TO GO
TO EXPERTS AND PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY, POLICE BEING AN
EXPERT AND THEN ALSO YOUR
NEIGHBORS BEING EXPERTS, BEING
ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND
SOLUTIONS AND FINDING WAYS TO DO
THIS.
WE ALSO HAVE SEEN THE POLICING
WITH WON'T YOU BE MY EASTWOOD
NEIGHBOUR.
WE HAD HUGE, HUGE ISSUES DOWN 82
STREET WEAN 118 AND THE
YELLOWHEAD.
WE DID DOOR KNOCKING AND WE HAD
TWO OFFICERS WITH US THROUGHOUT
THE WHOLE ENTIRE DOOR KNOCKING
TO BRING COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND
BRING THEM OUT TO CELEBRATE IN
THE BACK ALLEYS AND DO
MARSHMALLOW ROASTS AND MUSIC, WE
HAD ISIS RENO, IT WAS A REALLY
GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY
AND ALSO FOR NEIGHBORS TO GET TO
KNOW NEIGHBORS, BECAUSE THERE'S
POWER IN PEOPLE AND THERE'S
POWER WHEN WE ALL COME TOGETHER.
AND THE POLICE ARE INTEGRAL IN
THAT.
I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL.
I HAD PHOTOS, I WAS GOING TO
SEND THEM BUT I THOUGHT THAT'S
OKAY.
WE ALSO DO --
THE PARTNERSHIP IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, WITH COMMUNITY AND
POLICING WE FIND SO WE'VE BEEN
ENGAGED IN CITY CLEANUPS,
GRAFFITI PROJECTS.
BACK ALLEY INITIATIVES,
PROPERTIES INITIATIVES, DRUG
HOUSE INITIATIVES.
WE WERE DEALING WITH A NOTORIOUS
SLUM LANDLORD AND THE
INFORMATION THAT IS COMING FROM
COMMUNITY NOW THAT THEY'RE
FEELING SAFER AND THAT THEY'RE
ABLE TO SHARE ABOUT PROBLEM
PROPERTIES HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL.
AND BEING ABLE TO FIND
TASKFORCES AROUND THAT AND LAYER
IT WITH FIRE, YOU KNOW, CITY,
BYLAW, ALL THOSE LAYERINGS OF
REALLY WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE FUTURE.
THE WHOLE PIECE OF US WORKING
TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY IS
REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, WE ARE IN A COMMUNITY OF
LOTS OF VULNERABILITY, MENTAL
HEALTH, BROKENNESS, OUR KIDS IN
OUR SCHOOLS, WE'RE WORKING RIGHT
NOW WITH FOOD SECURITY ISSUES,
COUCH SURFING BECAUSE THEY DON'T
FEEL SAFE AT HOME.
AND IT'S ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS
AND IF WE DECIDE AS A
COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO
REMOVE THE PARTNERSHIP OF
EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE, WE'RE
GOING TO BE SEEING A HUGE HOLE
IN THE COMMUNITY.
LOTS OF NEW PEOPLE ARE MOVING
INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY
WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG,
AND WHEN THEY HAVE AN ISSUE,
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO CALL
SOMEONE TO GIVE THEM SUPPORT.
OFTENTIMES, THE WHOLE SCOPE
CREEP THAT HAPPENS IN SO MANY OF
OUR LIVES, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE
SCOPE CREEPING INTO SO MANY
AREAS BECAUSE THERE'S NEED.
WHEN THERE'S NEED THERE'S
ANSWERS AND THERE'S WAYS TO DO
IT.
SO IF HIS THERE'S WAYS TO
CONTINUE THESE INITIATIVES THE
REVITALIZATIONS IN THESE
COMMUNITIES ARE SUPER IMPORTANT.
AS YOU GUYS KNOW.
YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO THE
FESTIVALS, YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO
CONTINUE EVEN MORE.
>> SO LIKE I WOULD SAY WE NEED
MORE OF THOSE INITIATIVES.
WE NEED MORE OF THOSE
PARTNERSHIPS.
WE NEED MORE OF THOSE
STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND TO BE
ABLE TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY.
SO WITH US E HAVE A REALLY
STRONG DIVERSE AFRICAN
COMMUNITY, BEING ABLE TO DO
SMALLER GROUP MEETINGS, WE'VE
FOUND ARE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT,
AND MUCH MORE ACCEPTABLE TO
THOSE COMMUNITIES THAN DOING
LARGE, BIG TASKFORCE MEETINGS.
SO FINDING DIFFERENT WAYS AND
BEING ABLE TO BE NIMBLE HAS BEEN
REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.
THE ONE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, IF
WE DECIDE THAT WE'RE GOING TO
SAY --
WE'RE GOING TO DEFUND POLICE, IS
THAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO
BRING THE POLICE TO COMMUNITY
AND TO CREATE THIS POLICING
MODEL WITH OUR CHIEF.
SO I WOULD HATE TO SEE AS WE'VE
SEEN A BRAIN DRAIN OF A WHOLE
BUNCH OF INTELLECTINGSES, I
WOULD HATE TO SEE A LOVE DRAIN
AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO FEEL MORE AND
MORE UNSAFE AND THEY THEY MOVE
TO A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY, TO
OTHER AREAS THAT THEY FEEL SAFER
IN.
SO THAT IS A CONCERN THAT I'VE
HAD.
I THINK THE GROUND-UP POLICING
MODEL THAT WE ARE SEEING NEEDS
TO BE ENCOURAGED.
>> Mayor Iveson: YOU'RE AT THE
TIME.
>> OKAY, THANKS.
JUST ENCOURAGE.
THANKS,.
>> Mayor Iveson: MAYOR THANK
YOU.
NEXT IS SHI NI MARIWERAA.
>> I USE SHE HE PRONOUNS AND I'M
AN IMMIGRANT FROM SRI LANKA.
I'M HERE TO ANSW ADD TO THE VOIS
ENCOURAGING THIS PROGRAM AND TO
DEFUND AND DEMILITARIZE THE EPS.
AS MANY OTHERS HAVE DONE, I
WOULD LIKE TO USE MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES IN ORDER TO CONVEY
THIS MESSAGE.
FOR A YEAR I SOME TIERED AS A
DISTRESS LINE LISTENER WITH THE
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH
ASSOCIATION HERE IN EDMONTON.
'S RECEIVED TRAINING WITH
REGARDS TO CRISIS MANAGEMENT,
SUICIDE PREVENTION,
DE-ESCALATION, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
AND MUCH MORE.
AS A LISTENER WE WOULD OFTEN
MEET WITH FIRST AND AT TIMES
ONLY CONTACT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS
REGARDING THEIR CRISIS
SITUATION.
THEREFORE, IT WAS IMPERATIVE TO
VALIDATE, AFFIRM AND PROVIDE
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO ALL THOSE
WHO CALLED.
THE DISTRESS LINE IS BUILT UPON
PROVIDING SHORT TERM CRISIS
INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT TO ALL
THOSE WHO ARE IN DISTRESS AND IT
PLEDGES TO ALWAYS LISTEN AND LET
THE CALLER BE HEARD.
THE POLICE ARE ALSO MEANT TO ACT
AS A SERVICE FOR CRISIS
INTERVENTION.
HOWEVER, THEY ARE TOLD TO ALWAYS
BE ON GUARD AND PROTECT
THEMSELVES FIRST.
SO NATURALLY THEIR I THINK
DISTINCT DURING THESE SITUATIONS
IS TO DRAW OUT THEIR WEAPONS
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HANDED WHICH
IS ESTIMATE TODAY OCCUR ABOUT
2.5 TIMES A DAY.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THIS FEAR
PERPETUATES AND EXACERBATES THE
STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH
AND THOSE STRUGGLING WITH THE
SAME TO THE POINT WHERE THE
POLICE HAVE ASKED US TO THEIR
FIREARMS EVEN DURING A MENTAL
HEALTH OR SOCIAL ISSUES RELATED
CALL.
THIS IS WHY POLICE SHOULDN'T BE
ADDRESSING THESE MENTAL HEALTH
OR SOCIAL RELATED CALLS.
THERE ARE AS 34% OF% OF ALL
CALLS ARE MENTAL HEALTH OR
SOCIAL ISSUES RELATED, THEN AT
LEAST 30% OF THE POLICE BUDGET,
THE SINGLE LARGEST LINE NUMBER
IN THE CITY OF EDMONTON'S
BUDGET, SHOULD BE DIVESTED AWAY
FROM THIS INSTITUTION AND INTO
SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES.
IN ADDITION, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, MICHAEL
ELLIOTT, DENOUNCED THAT THERE IS
SYSTEMIC RACISM WITHIN THE EPS
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CBC.
HOW DOES ONE THEN EXPLAIN HOW
INDIGENOUS WOMEN ARE TEN TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO BE STREET CHECKED
THAN OTHERS?
HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THE
DISPROPORTIONATELY
OVERREPRESENTED NUMBER OF BLACK
AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IMPRISONED
AND JAILED ACROSS ALL OF CANADA?
THE RACISM CONTINUES.
AS RAY CAST WALTERS POINTED OUT
WHEN DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY
OF DECREASING THE POLICE BUDGET
CHIEF McPHEE MENTIONED HOW THE
FIRST THING TO BE WOULD BE
PROGRAMS BROUGHT IN TO ADDRESS
DIVERSITY WITHIN THE POLICE
FORCE.
THESE ARE ALL VERY CLEAR SIGNS
OF SYSTEMIC RACISM.
SO BY NOW, YOU MUST HAVE HEARD
DOZENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF
TESTIMONIES ALL STATING THE
IMPORTANCE OF DEFUNDING THE
POLICE AND INVESTING IN THE
COMMUNITY.
YOU HAVE INVITINGLY
RETRAUMATIZED PEOPLE WHILE
ASKING THEM TO JUSTIFY THEIR
STANCE ON PRO ABOLITIONIST
BELIEFS.
YOU HAVE ALLOWED FOR THE
OPPRESSION OF OUR CITY'S MOST
MARGINALIZED PEOPLE TO CONTINUE
BY THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING US.
YOU CANNOT AVERT YOUR EYES
ANYMORE.
YOU MUST TAKE A STAND AND YOU
SHOULD FEEL THE URGENCY FOR
CHANGE.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS ROHIT GILL.
>> HEY.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
SO MY NAME IS ROHIT.
MY PRONOUNS ARE HE AND HIM AND
I'M A RECENT GRADUATE FROM THE U
OF A LIVING IN ELLERSLIE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS
MOTION AND TO ENCOURAGE COUNCIL
IN GOING FURTHER TO DEMILITARIZE
THE POLICE AND TO INVEST INTO
COMPASSIONATE INITIATIVES RATHER
THAN DRACONIAN ONES.
AT THEIR BEST, STATES AND BY
EXTENSION MUNICIPALITIES DESERVE
INTERESTS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS
IN WAYS MARKETS OFTEN CANNOT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE SEEN A
RECENT TREND IN GOVERNANCE THAT
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR
YOU TODAY.
WHETHER IT BE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL OF A CERB
SNITCH LINE, THE PROVINCE'S
INTRODUCTION OF BILL 1, OR THE
CITY'S EXCESSIVE POLICING
PRACTICES, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH
STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES ARE
TAKING A DRACONIAN APPROACH TO
PROBLEMS THATNESS ESTATE
COMPASSIONATE SOLUTIONS.
EDMONTON IS NOT IMMUNE TO THIS
TREND.
HAD YOUR POLICE HAVE ENJOYED IN
DISCRIMINATORY UNCONSTITUTIONAL
CARDING PRACTICES THAT OFTEN
TARGET BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE.
OUR CITY'S CRIMINALIZE POVERTY
BY ISSUING TICKET
DISPROPORTIONATELY TO LOW INCOME
AND HOMELESS POPULATIONS.
IN MANY CASES, MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES ARE RESPONDED TO BY THE
POLICE AS WELL.
DESPITE OFFICERS NOT HAVING THE
NECESSARY TRAINING TO DEAL WITH
THESE ISSUES APPROPRIATELY.
THESE DRACONIAN RESPONSES TO
SYSTEMIC ISSUES MUST STOP.
FOR THE MOST PART POLICING IS A
BAND-AID SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS
AFTER THEY'VE ALREADY OCCURRED.
OUR TAX DOLLARS WILL STRETCH
MUCH FARTHER IF WE ALLOCATE THEM
TO PREVENTATIVE SOLUTIONS.
AN OUNCE OF PREFERENCE IS WORTH
A POUND OF CURE.
POVERTY IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST
PREDICTORS OF CRIME, BY
ADDRESSING POVERTY AT ITS ROOTS,
WE CAN ALSO PREVENT CRIME IN THE
CITY.
SO THE SHIFT FROM DRACONIANISM
TO COMPASSION WILL REQUIRE A
SHIFT IN PRIORITIES AND
CONSEQUENTLY A SHIFT IN
BUDGETING.
THAT MEANS DIVESTING FROM
POLICE.
THEREFORE, DEMILITARIZING POLICE
AND INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED, HOWEVER THAT
WHEN WE SAY DIVEST FROM THE
POLICE WE DO NOT MEAN PRIVATIZE
THE POLICE.
IF ANYONE THINKS THIS COULD BE
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO
INTRODUCE A NEW PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP THEY ARE MISGUIDED.
IF YOU THINK THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE OFFICERS
HUNG OUT TO DRY WITHOUT
MEANINGFUL WORK OR A LIVING, YOU
ARE ALSO MISGUIDED.
THIS IS ABOUT HAVING STATES AND
MUNICIPALITIES DO WHAT THEY DO
BEST, TAKE CARE OF THEIR
CONSTITUENTS, RATHER THAN POLICE
THEM AT EVERY MOMENT.
WHAT SHOULD THIS REALOCATION OF
RESOURCES ENTAIL IS THIS WE CAN
START BY SHIFTING OUR BUDGETS
AWAY FROM MILITARIZED POLICING
AND TOWARDS HOUSING FIRST
INITIATIVES, TOWARDS MAKING
EDMONTON TRANSIT FARE-FREE,
TOWARDS MORE TWO ON ONE RESPONSE
AND LESS 9-1-1 RESPONSE.
TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH AND
TOWARDS EDUCATION.
THERE IS NO REASON OUR TAX
DOLLARS SHOULD BE GOING TO
ARMOURED VEHICLES, RATHER THAN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THE AFFECTS OF POLICING THAT WE
DO LIKE SUCH AS DETECTIVE WORK
OR RESPONDING TO SAFETY CONCERNS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
SHOULD BE UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE
TO ALL EDMONTONIANS.
THERE IS NO REASON THAT SOMEONE
CALLING ABOUT A BREAK AND ENTER,
IN A MORE DIVERSE, POOR
NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD NOT BE
AROUNDED THE SAME CARE AND
ATTENTION AS SOMEONE LIVING IN
WESTBROOK.
THERE ARE COUNTLESS
COMPASSIONATE AND PREVENTATIVE
SOLUTIONS TO OUR CITY'S
PROBLEMS.
APPEAR EDMONTON THAT CHOOSES TO
ADOPT THESE SOLUTIONS IS AN
EDMONTON THAT WE CAN BE PROUD TO
CALL HOME REGARDLESS OF OUR
COLOUR, CREED OR CLASS.
THANKS.
>> Mayor Iveson: THANK YOU.
ROHIT.
WAS ALI SITTER ABLE JOIN NEWS.
>> THEY WERE NOT.
>> Mayor Iveson: FRANK PAGE?
>> YEAH, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> Mayor Iveson: YES, GO
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS FRANK PAGE.
FULL DISCLOSURE, I'M A MEMBER OF
THE EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE.
I'M NOT GOING TO TILL YOU A WARM
AND FUZZY POLICE STORY, ONE
NIGHT'S STORY ABOUT POLICE DOES
I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF 
OTHER'S EXPERIENCES I'VE BEEN 
SHARING. 
I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF 
MY CAREER SO PEOPLE HAVE A 
CONTEXT OF MY VIEWS. 
I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER FOR 
OVER 24 YEARS. 
I'VE SPECIALIZED IN AREAS OF 
CHILD PROTECTION, DOMESTIC 
VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDE. 
I'VE SEEN CHILDREN AND ADULTS 
BEATEN, TERRORIZED, SEXUALLY 
ASSAULTED AND MURDERED. 
I'VE SEEN THE WORST OF WHAT 
PEOPLE CAN DO TO EACH OTHER. 
WITH WELL TRAINED OFFICERS, THE 
VULNERABLE AND SOCIETY WOULD 
FEEL TERRIFIED AS THERE HAVE 
BEEN NO ONE TO STAND UP TO THEM 
AND THE PEOPLE THAT PREY UPON 
THEM. 
UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOUR OF WHY 
OFFENDERS BECOME OFFENDERS IS 
EXTREMELY COMPLICATED. 
ONE UNDERLYING FACTOR IS TRAUMA 
AS A YOUTH WHICH CAN MANIFEST IN
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND BEHAVIOURING
LATER IN LIFE. 
AND PASS ON TO THEIR YOUTH. 
I SHARE THIS TO DEMONSTRATE THE 
BEHAVIOUR IS COMPLEX AND NOT 
EASY TO FIX AND ELIMINATE AND 
ELIMINATE THE POLICE DOES NOT 
HELP. 
I AGREE WITH THOSE SAYING WE 
NEED MORE RESOURCES, SUBSTANCE 
ABUSE TREATMENT IS ONE HUGE 
ASPECT, IT BREAKS MY HEART TO 
SEE OUR YOUTH, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE 
IN THE THROES OF ADDICTION. 
I CANNOT FORCE THEM. 
TRAUMA AND TREATMENT ARE 
CRITICAL BUT HARD TO OBTAIN FOR 
OFFENDERS OUTSIDE AN 
INCARCERATION SETTING. 
OFTEN THE VICTIMS SIMPLY DO NOT 
HAVE FINANCIAL RESOURCES. 
I SAY THIS BECAUSE THERE IS SO 
MUCH AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN DO TO
HELP PEOPLE. 
I WILL LOVE FOR CITIZENS OF 
EDMONTON TO PULL TOGETHER, 
ADDRESS VULNERABLES WITHIN OUR 
CITY AND OUR COMMUNITIES AND 
EVENTUALLY REDUCE THE NEED FOR 
POLICE. 
I WOULD LOVE TO BE WORKED OUT OF
MY JOB. 
THIS IS A DEBATE THAT'S 10 YEARS
AHEAD OF ITS TIME. 
THERE IS SO MUCH COMMUNITY WORK 
TO BE DONE FIRST. 
TO REDUCE FUNDING NOW IS LIKE 
ASKING PEOPLE TO WALK A 
TIGHTROPE WITHOU A NET. 
LET'S DO THE OTHER WORK FIRST. 
AND REVISIT THIS DEBATE DOWN THE
ROAD. 
IN THE MEANTIME HOW DO WE BETTER
SERVE YOU?
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO SOME OF 
THE STORIES OF PAIN AND 
MARGINALIZATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE
SHARED AND I EMPHASIZE WITH YOU.
THESE EXPERIENCES ARE IMPORTANT 
FOR US TO LEARN OUR COMMUNITIES 
BETTER SO THAT WE CAN SERVE YOU 
BETTER. 
I AGREE WITH THE GENTLEMEN WHO 
SPOKE ON MONDAY THE CRIMINAL 
LAWYER THAT EDUCATION FOR ALL OF
SOCIETY INCLUDING POLICE IS 
CRITICAL IN FIGHTING RACISM. 
IN THE 24 YEARS I'VE LIVED IN 
EDMONTON, I'VE SEEN MASSIVE 
CHANGES IN MY COMMUNITY. 
WE ARE SO MUCH MORE DIVERSE IN 
LIFESTYLES. 
WHILE THIS DIVERSITY CREATES A 
RICH FABRIC FOR OUR COMMUNITY, 
IT WREAKS CHALLENGES FOR PUBLIC 
SERVICES. 
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR US TO 
CATCH UP AND SOMETIMES WE FUMBLE
THE BALL. 
WE NEED YOU TO WORK WITH US FOR 
THIS TO BE A SUCCESS. 
A MALE DOMINATED ENVIRONMENT HAS
BEEN A CHALLENGE. 
I CHOOSE TO WORK WITHIN THE 
SYSTEM TO FACILITATE CHANGE. 
I'M ONE OF THE FEW STAFF 
SERGEANTS WITHIN THE EDMONTON 
POLICE SERVICE. 
I'M ONE OF THE COMMANDING 
OFFICERS IN OUR PATROL BRANCH. 
IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY ROAD FOR
ME. 
WHEN I WAS FIRST HIRED THERE, 
THERE WERE VERY FEW FEMALES 
WITHIN THE SERVICE. 
NOW I SEE MORE AND MORE WOMEN 
NOT ONLY HIRED BUT IN POSITIONS 
OF LEADERSHIP. 
WE ARE USING OUR BACKGROUNDS AND
EXPERIENCE TO MAKE EPS STRONGER 
AND MORE EFFECTIVE WITHIN OUR 
COMMUNITY. 
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT NATHAN 
KENNEDY WHO SPOKE ON MONDAY IS 
UNDER MY COMMAND. 
HE WAS A MAN OF CHARACTER, 
PASSION AND ETHICS. 
HIS TROUBLED YOUTH INFLUENCED 
HIS DEVELOPMENT BUT IT WAS HIS 
PERSONAL CHOICES THAT DETERMINED
HIS CHARACTER. 
NATHAN IS SO HUMBLE THAT HE 
WOULD BE THE LAST ONE TO TELL 
YOU HE'S NOT SIMPLY A COP, HE'S 
ALREADY A LEADER. 
HE HAS AND IS CURRENTLY TRAINING
THE NEXT GENERATION OF POLICE. 
HE IS BEING THAT CHANGE THAT HE 
SPOKE ABOUT AND THAT I HEAR 
PEOPLE CALLING FOR. 
I JOIN MY VOICE TO MANY OTHER 
OTHERS IN A CALL TO END RACISM 
AND DISCRIMINATION. 
IT HAS NO PLACE IN OUR SOCIETY. 
BUT RACISM IS A PEOPLE PROBLEM. 
WE HAVE TO TACKLE RACISM AT A 
SOCIETAL LEVEL. 
I'M TROUBLED THAT WE SEGREGATE 
OUR YOUTH ACCORDING TO RELIGION,
CULTURE. 
I TRULY BELIEVE WE ACTUALLY HAVE
OUR SARLY THAN WE DO 
DIFFERENCES.  
FINALLY MY PRIMARY CONCERN ABOUT
THE EVENTS THAT ARE TRANSPIRING 
IN EDMONTON AND ACROSS NORTH 
AMERICA IS THAT PEOPLE ARE 
RACISM IN A VERY DIVISIVE WAY. 
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE BRIDGES 
BEING BUILT, NOT TORN DOWN, 
THANK YOU. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU 
STAFF SERGEANT. 
WAS MARY HOWE ABLE TO JOIN US? 
>> THEY WERE NOT. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: DO WE HAVE 
ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ABLE TO JOIN 
US OR ARE WE ON THE LAST? 
>> THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST ON 
THE PANEL. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: OK, 
BRITNEY, YOU HAVE THE LAST WORD 
AMONG THE PANELISTS, AT LEAST. 
THERE'S MORE DISCUSSION TO BE 
HAD BUT THE FLOOR IS YOURS FIVE 
MINUTES. 
GO AHEAD. 
>> MY PRONOUNCES ARE SHE/HER AND
I'M HERE TO SPEAK OF DEFUNDING 
AND ABOLISHES THE EDMONTON 
POLICE SERVICE IN SOLIDARITY 
WITH BLACK LIVES HEART EDMONTON.
I'M A UKRAIN WOMAN BORN AND 
RAISED ON TREATY 6. 
AND CURRENTLY RESIDE IN COMMONLY
KNOWN EDMONTON. 
I'M AN ACTING PRESIDENT AND 
FOUNDER OF A GRASSROOTS 
ANTIVIOLENCE INITIATIVE IN 
EDMONTON AIMED AT ADDRESSING 
THIS ISSUE IN THE ARTS 
COMMUNITIES PREDOMINANTLY BUT 
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY EXPANDED DURING
CURRENT EVENTS. 
AND I'LL TALK MOSTLY ABOUT MY 
EXPERIENCE WITH REPORTING MY 
ASSAULT AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH 
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. 
I REPORTED MY SEXUAL ASSAULT IN 
NOVEMBER 2017 TO EPS WHICH WAS 
UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE MOST 
DIFFICULT DECISIONS I'VE EVER 
HAD TO MAKE. 
SURVIVORS OFTEN DON'T COME 
FORWARD BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID 
OF NOT BEING BELIEVED OR TAKEN 
SERIOUSLY AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY
ARE IN A MARGINALIZED POSITION, 
IF THEY'RE BLACK, INDIGENOUS, 
THE FEAR RUNS DEEP BECAUSE OF 
THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT POLICE 
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE BEEN 
PUSHING FORWARD ON MARGINALIZED 
COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES. 
AND THE POLICE DO A VERY GOOD 
JOB OF HANDLING SEXUAL ASSAULTS.
THE "THE GLOBE AND MAIL" 
REPORTED IN 2017 THAT ACROSS 
CANADA ONE IN FIVE SEXUAL 
ASSAULT CLAIMS WERE LABELLED 
BASELESS WHICH ESSENTIALLY SHOWS
ME AS A SURVIVOR THAT MY VOICE 
DOESN'T MATTER AND WHAT HAPPENED
TO ME AND MY TRAUMA DOESN'T 
MATTER. 
AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE 
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID 
TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THEIR TRAUMA 
AND THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH SEXUAL
VIOLENCE. 
AGAIN PREDOMINANTLY INDIGENOUS 
BLACK WOMEN AND TWO-SPIRIT QUEER
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 
AS A WHITE PRESENTING WOMAN, 
GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS WAS 
UNDOUBTEDLY DIFFERENT THAN 
SOMEONE WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY 
RACIALIZED. 
DESPITE THAT THE POLICE STILL 
MADE ME FEEL, DEHUMANIZED, 
INTIMIDATED AND RETRAUMATIZED.  
THE ENTIRE PROCESS WAS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT. 
THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF SUPPORT 
GIVEN TO ME DURING MY TIME GOING
THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT ADDS AN 
ADDITIONAL LAYER OF TRAUMA INTO 
SURVIVORS' EXPERIENCES ON TOP OF
THE TRAUMA OF THEIR INITIAL 
ASSAULT OR EXPERIENCE. 
AND THE POLICE WILL TAKE ME 
SERIOUSLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. 
THE POWER IMBALANCE BETWEEN 
POLICE AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS 
CREATES A HIERARCHY IN WHICH 
SURVIVORS HAVE TO PLACE 
THEMSELVES IN VULNERABLE 
POSITIONS TO BE HEARD WHICH 
UNDOUBTEDLY INCREASED THE RISK 
SPECIAL FOR BLACK AND COMMUNITY 
MEMBERS. 
I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR 
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE AND AS 
SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH SURVIVORS
IN THE COMMUNITY AND I FEEL THAT
SURVIVORS WOULD BE WAY BETTER 
SERVED BY FELLOW COMMUNITY 
MEMBERS TO ADDRESS HARMS 
EXPERIENCED. 
75 MILLION DOLLARS PROMISE TO 
THE EPS WOULD CREATE SO MANY 
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES TO
STRENGTHEN VALUABLE SKILL SETS 
WITHIN EACH OTHER'S 
RELATIONSHIPS AND BY STANDARD 
INTERVENTION TRAINING, 
TRANSFORMATIVE RESTORATIVE 
JUSTICE, PRACTICES, RESPONSE TO 
SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND SO MUCH 
MORE. 
SURVIVORS OF TRAUMA IS ONLY 
POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF
POLICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
I BELIEVE WE CAN ALL LEARN 
SKILLS TO BETTER MANAGE SEXUAL 
VIOLENCE SO BLACK, INDIGENOUS, 
QUEER VOICES ARE CENTRED IN 
THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THEY'RE 
PROTECTED AND GRANTED. 
THE CURRENT SYSTEM, THE EPS AND 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DO NOT 
EMPOWER SURVIVORS WHICH IS MADE 
MOST OBVIOUS BY THE LACK OF 
JUSTICE AGAINST INDIGENOUS WOMEN
AND GIRLS. 
IF THE POLICE AND THE RCMP ARE 
VERY INTEGRAL TO JUSTICE AS 
WE'RE LED TO BELIEVE AND 
SOCIALIZED TO BELIEVE, THEN WHY 
IS THERE STILL NOTHING BEING 
DOING FOR THOUSANDS OF LIVES 
LOST TO SEXUALIZED COLONIAL 
VIOLENCE. 
BECAUSE THEIR PROPERLY TRAINED 
CARE FOR ALL MEMBERS, END 
DEFUNDING AND ABOLISHING AND 
DEMILITARIZING THE EPS THAT 
CREATES SPACE FOR SUCH AN 
EMPOWERING AND JUST WAY. 
I STAND WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER 
AND THEIR CALLS TO REINVEST THE 
BUDGET INTO NEW INFRASTRUCTURE 
NEER VOTE FOR AN INCREASE TO 
THE EPS BUDGET AND A REPEAL FOR 
THE 75 MILLION DOLLARS PROMISED 
IN 2019 TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH
INITIATIVES, COMMUNITY 
INITIATIVES AND CREATING SAFE 
EVERY LIVING CONDITIONS FOR 
THOSE. 
WE DO NOT NEED THE POLICE. 
WE NEED EACH OTHER. 
WE NEED RESOURCES AND WE NEED TO
LISTEN TO MARGINALIZED VOICES. 
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL 
MEMBERS OF THIS PANEL AND ALL OF
THE PRIOR SPEAKERS WHO WE'VE 
HEARD FROM. 
I THINK MORE THAN 150 ALL 
TOGETHER BUT WE'RE NOT DONE JUST
YET. 
WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS 
OF COUNCIL SO FAR I HAVE COUNCIL
WALTERS, COUNCIL HENNERSON IN 
THE CUE. 
COUNCIL WALTERS, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU I WANTED TO START 
WITH MS. PAGE. 
>> I'M HERE, SORRY, I'M HERE. 
IT'S JUST IT'S BACKWARDS SO YOU 
CAN'T SEE ME. 
>> OK, A QUESTION I WILL LIKE. 
PUT YOU ON THE SPOT A LITTLE 
BIT. 
>> OK. 
>> SPOKE TO A UPS MEMBER EARLIER
IN THE HEARING. 
IF YOU'RE ABLE TO TELL US IN A 
COUPLE MINUTES OR LESS A STORY 
ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD TO STAND UP
TO RACISM IN THE SERVICE AND HOW
DIFFICULT THAT WAS TO DO? 
>> YOU KNOW IT'S INTERESTING. 
IT'S A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION
AND I WOULD HAVE TO PREFACE IT 
BY SAYING MY REPUTATION PROCEEDS
ME IN KEELING WITH MY FELLOW 
MEMBERS, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT 
A WHOLE LOT, BUT I ALSO THINK 
THAT PEOPLE DON'T BEHAVE LIKE 
THAT AROUND ME BECAUSE THEY KNOW
WHAT I STAND FOR. 
SO I CAN'T THINK OF A SPECIFIC 
EXAMPLE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. 
I'M NOT GOING TO DENY THAT IT 
HAPPENS --
>> SO THOSE FORCED TO STAND UP 
TO IT OR WILLING TO STAND UP TO 
IT, HOW EASY FOR THEM DO YOU 
THINK IT IS FOR THEM TO STAND UP
TO IT? 
>> I THINK IT'S GETTING EASIER. 
WHEN I FIRST -- LIKE I SAID I'VE
BEEN ON FOR 24 YEARS, I THINK 
THE CULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 
TODAY IS MUCH MORE OPEN FOR US 
TO HAVE THAT INTERACTION AND THE
CHECKS AND BALANCES. 
MORE THAN IT WAS 24 YEARS AGO. 
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? 
>> THAT'S FINE. 
I APPRECIATE IT. 
MR. GILL, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, 
YOU PROVIDED SOME WARNING OF NOT
EVEN IF WE DEFUND THE PUBLICLY 
FUNDED POLICE WE SHOULDN'T 
PRIVATIZE. 
DON'T YOU THINK IF THE POLICE, 
THE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN 
POLICING WERE REMOVED THAT THERE
WOULD BE A SURGE IN PRIVATE 
SECURITY BEING UTILIZED ACROSS 
OUR SOCIETY?
DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE A 
REACTION TO THAT? 
>> I'M TRYING TO WARN AGAINST 
THAT, SO --
>> LIKE OUR CONTROL OVER THAT IS
OUR CONTROL IS THE PUBLICLY 
FUNDED POLICE BUDGET. 
NOT NECESSARILY A PRELIVATION 
PRIVATE SECURITY. 
>> I MEAN YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO 
ON WHETHER TO USE LIKE P3s. 
YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO. 
>> RIGHT, OR EVEN IF WE DIDN'T, 
I'M SAYING THERE COULD POSSIBLY 
BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. 
>> YES, MY POINT IS RATHER THAN 
PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS BIDDING 
ON PRIVATE SECURITY, WOULD BE TO
PUT THAT MONEY TOWARDS 
PREVENTATIVE SOLUTIONS, SO 
REDUCE CRIME IN OTHER WAYS. 
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. 
MY WORRY IS THAT, THAT WOULD BE 
THE ULTIMATE SIGNIFICANT 
OUTLIEIZATION PRIVATE LAW 
ENFORCEMENT. 
BUT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT 
LATER. 
MS. MOORE, I WANTED TO ASK YOU A
QUESTION AS SOMEONE WHO IS LONG 
ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMUNITY, IF
THIS COUNCIL WAS TO TAKE STEPS 
TO BEGIN ABOLISHING POLICE, SAY,
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REACTION 
WOULD BE TO THAT SAY IN THE NEXT
MUNICIPAL ELECTION? 
>> I THINK YOU WOULD SEE A LOT 
OF HOUSES GOING UP FOR SALE. 
I THINK THERE'S A REAL CONCERN. 
I THINK THERE'S A REAL CONCERN 
IF WE ABOLISH POLICE THAT THE 
PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED IN THAT 
ARE PART OF THE CHANGE THAT WANT
TO BE PART OF THE CHANGE, I MEAN
MICHAEL, I MEAN YOU KNOW RIGHT, 
WHAT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WAS 15, 
16, 17 YEARS AGO WITHOUT THE 
COMMUNITY POLICING MODEL. 
IF WE DRASTICALLY CHANGE IT, IT 
IS GOING TO GO BACK DOWN A HILL 
AND I THINK THAT'S A REAL 
CONCERN. 
I WAS TALKING WITH ONE OF THE 
INDIGENOUS GROUPS IN OUR 
NEIGHBOURHOOD THAT WE'RE CLOSE 
WITH, I DON'T WANT TO NAME NAMES
BECAUSE SHE CAN SPEAK WHEN SHE'S
ABLE TO, BUT WE WERE TALKING 
ABOUT AND IT WE'RE VERY 
CONCERNED IF THERE IS A DRASTIC 
CHANGE. 
THE BIG SUPPORTS, THE 
INFRASTRUCTURE PIECES. 
>> I WILL CLOSE. 
THANK YOU FOR THAT, MS. MARTIN. 
MS. PAGE I'LL GO BACK TO YOU. 
YOU TALKED ABOUT BUILDING 
BRIDGES THAT HAPPENED. 
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE FIRST 
BRIDGE AND MOST IMPORTANT BRIDGE
THAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT THAT 
ISN'T THERE TODAY? 
>>. 
>> I WOULD SAY THE MEMBERS, THE 
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN UP IN 
THESE FORUMS, I THINK IT'S 
CRITICAL TO HEAR THEIR VOICE. 
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO BUILD 
THOSE BRIDGES WITH PEOPLE WHO 
FEEL THAT THEY'VE BEEN HURT AND 
MARGINALIZED BY POLICE. 
WE NEED TO HEAR THEM AND WE NEED
TO HEAR WHERE THINGS HAVE GONE 
WRONG AND HOW WE CAN DO BETTER 
AND COME TO THE TABLE WITH THEM.
I MEAN, IT FORMS A GREAT EXAMPLE
OF WHERE WE CAN START FOR SURE.
>> THANK YOU, I'M OUT OF TIME. 
THANK YOU. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU. 
COUNCILLOR HENDERSON? 
>> I THINK I'LL GO FIRST. 
I WAS INTERESTED IN HOW YOU 
CHANGED CULTURE AND THE NEED TO 
SHOCK IN ORDER TO DO THAT. 
>> ACTUALLY THOSE ARE THE WORDS 
OF STEVE McPHEE BUT YES. 
>> OK, SURE. 
SO WHAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS 
THAT YOU COULD DEFUN AND 
ACTUALLY NOT CREATE THAT CULTURE
SHOCK. 
>> EXACTLY. 
SO WHAT IN YOUR MIND BECAUSE I 
DO THINK THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT
FACES US RIGHT NOW AND I THINK 
PARTLY WE'RE DEALING WITH A 
SYSTEM I THINK AT THIS PINT 
MADE TO US AGAIN AND AGAIN AND 
AGAIN WHERE THE POLICE ARE DOING
EXACTLY WHAT TRADITIONAL SOCIETY
HAS BEEN ASKING TO DO. 
AND THAT PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT WE 
DO NEED TO DO AS OPPOSED TO WHAT
THAT'S ABOUT. 
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SHOCK A 
SYSTEM, IF YOU'RE GOING TO 
CHANGE CULTURE, WHAT OTHER 
MECHANISMS AND TOOLS ARE THERE 
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ACTUALLY 
GET TO THAT CHANGE?
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE 
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION WE NEED TO 
DEAL WITH HERE. 
>> Reporter: THERE ARE A LOT OF 
TOOLS IN THE TOOL BOX TO DO 
THAT. 
EVERYTHING FROM LANGUAGE TO 
FUNDING, TO SO MANY TOOLS. 
BUT IT REALLY HAS TO COME FROM 
THE TOP. 
IF THERE IS NO BUY-IN BY THE 
MAIN STAKE HOLDERS AND HERE 
ALTHOUGH WE'RE TALKING TO THE 
STU OF EDMONTON COUNCILLOR, 
WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE 
EDMONTONIANS THAT YOU'RE HEARING
FROM. 
AND SO, IN ORDER TO CHANGE 
CULTURE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE 
UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU NEED TWO 
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CULTURES TO 
DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE 
BEING ADDRESSED. 
>> THE GOOD BAD, RIGHT, WRONG 
CULTURE THAT, THE POLICE HAVE IS
IMPORTANT. 
I CAN SEE SHADES OF GRAY AND I 
CAN DO SOME PROBLEM SOLVING THAT
IS CREATIVE IS ALSO ABSOLUTELY 
CRUCIAL AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE 
TODAY. 
>> I GUESS I WORRY THAT WE HAVE 
BEEN ASKING THE POLICE TO DO THE
WRONG THING. 
ANY RESPONSE TO THAT?
YOU KNOW, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT 
I'M TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH. 
MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION OF THAT
YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU WE'VE BEEN 
MAKING INCREMENTAL CHANGE AND 
YET NOTHING SEEMS TO 
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE.
>> IT'S A QUESTION OF DO YOU 
CONTROL DO YOU CONTROL PUBLIC 
SAFETY OR DO YOU RESOLVE PUBLIC 
SAFETY ISSUES.  
>> OK. 
SERGEANT, DID YOU HAVE ANY 
THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT QUESTION AS 
HOW YOU PUSH FOR THE FUNDAMENTAL
CHANGE SOUNDS LIKE YOU STAND 
FOR? 
>> IS THAT ADDRESSED TO ME? 
>> YEAH.  
>> SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THE 
QUESTION. 
>> I'M WONDERING YOU KNOW, WHAT 
YOU KNOW WE HAVE BEEN NIBBLING 
AT THE EDGES OF THIS FOR SO 
LONG. 
STORY IS NOT CHANGING. 
AND IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S AN 
OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR SOME 
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN WHAT WE 
EXPECT POLICE TO DO. 
AND HOW WE EXPECT THEM TO DO AND
IT WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS. 
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT 
SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALREADY BELIEVE 
IN. 
SO WHAT ARE THE TOOLS THAT WE 
NEED TO SHAKE THINGS UP ENOUGH 
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE 
SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE WE NEED IN 
THAT CULTURE. 
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 
SO, I THINK KENNEDY'S 
PRESENTATION ON MONDAY, HE'S A 
CRITICAL EXAMPL OF HOW WE CAN 
FACILITATE THAT CHANGE. 
POLICING AT THE CORE OF IT IS A 
PEOPLE OCCUPATION. 
WE RELY HEAVILY ON INTERPERSONAL
EXPERIENCE. 
SO, THE DAYS OF HIRING COOKIE 
CUTTER COPS IS OVER AND 
DIVERSITY IS CRITICAL. 
AND AS A STAFF SERGEANT 
DOWNTOWN, IT'S WONDERFUL FOR ME 
TO SEE DIVERSITY BECOMING MORE 
AND MORE A PART OF OUR 
PERSONNEL. 
I HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF 
LIFE JOINING OUR CREWS AND 
THAT'S THE CRITICAL PART OF 
CREATING THAT CHANGE THAT WE'RE 
TALKING ABOUT. 
IT TAKES TIME AND I'LL BE HONEST
WITH YOU, IT TAKES TIME AND IT 
TAKES TRAINING. 
AND CONNECTING UP WITH THE 
COMMUNITY, NOT JUST DIVERSITY 
WITHIN OUR MEMBERSHIP BUT WITH 
THOSE CRITICAL COMMUNITY PEOPLE 
OUT THERE THAT CAN IMPACT AND 
THAT WE CAN BOUNCE IDEAS OFF OF 
AND GET THAT INPUT INTO HOW WE 
DO THINGS BETTER, IS ALSO 
ANOTHER ASPECT OF IT. 
>> THANKS, I WISH I CAN GO ON 
BUT I'VE RUN OUT OF TIME. 
THANK YOU. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU, 
NEXT IS COUNCILLOR BANGA. 
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
MR. GILL, QUESTION FOR YOU. 
OVER THE LAST FOUR DAYS. 
IT'S BEEN SAID OVER AND OVER 
AGAIN THAT POLICE THAT 30% OF 
THE CALLS THAT POLICE THEY ARE 
NOT POLICE CALLS. 
OK AND I'M PRETTY SURE. 
BUT PLEASE TELL ME, THE 
MECHANISM WHEN A CALL COMES IN 
TO 9-1-1 OR WHATEVER THE POLICE 
NUMBER IS, PEOPLE DO NOT SAY 
THAT MY LOVED ONE IS HAVING 
MENTAL ISSUES. 
PEOPLE SAY I'M HAVING TROUBLE 
WITH MY BROTHER, MY SISTER OR 
WHOEVER ELSE. 
COULD YOU BE ABLE TO TELL ME HOW
DO WE DISTINGUISH WHAT THIS 
COLLEAGUE IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO
BE?
>> I'M GETTING THROWN SOME HARD 
BALLS HERE, BUT I'LL TRY MY 
BEST. 
I MEAN THAT WILL TAKE TRAINING. 
I LIKE THE IDEA OF OFFICERS 
WORKING WITH MENTAL HEALTH 
WORKERS AND TRYINGTO READ THOSE
CUES AS BEST THEY CAN. 
BECAUSE CURRENTLY IT'S NOT 
HAPPENING. 
THERE WAS THE RECENT DEATH OF A 
MAN WHO WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC. 
THAT'S A CLEAR CUT THEME THAT 
SHOULDN'T HAPPEN BUT IT DOES 
TIME AND TIME AGAIN. 
I THINK HAD SOME EXPERIENCE 
ANSWER SOMETHING CALL SO SHE MAY
BE ABLE TO DETAIL ON HOW TO 
RESPOND AND HOW TO PICK UP ON 
THOSE CUES. 
SO I WOULD LOVE TO DEFER TO HER 
IF SHE WOULD BE WILLING.  
>> I'LL ASK YOU ANOTHER 
QUESTION. 
>> SURE. 
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID YOU 
KNOW, ON SOCIAL ISSUES, 
HOMELESSNESS, POVERTY, MENTAL 
HEALTH, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO 
HELP IF WE TAKE CARE OF THEM. 
AND AGAIN YOU ALSO MENTIONED 
PRETRANSIT FARES. 
IN YOUR MIND DID THE CRIME AND 
DISORDER WENT DOWN IN THE LAST 
FEW MONTHS?
BECAUSE WE HAD FREE TRANSIT. 
>> THE POINT IS TO NOT 
CRIMINALIZE SOMEBODY FOR NOT 
BEING ABLE TO AFFORD A SERVICE 
THAT SHOULD BE FREE IN THE FIRST
PLACE. 
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE 
OTHER QUESTION YOU ASKED. 
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD MAKE IT 
MORE CLEAR TO PEOPLE THAT TWO ON
ONE IS AN AVENUE THAT THEY CAN 
RESPOND, THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE. 
AND MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE THE 
POLICE ARE SO PERVASIVE IN 
SOCIETY WE ONLY THINK TO CALL 
9-1-1. 
WE NEED TO MAKE 2-1-1 MORE 
ACCESSIBLE. 
PEOPLE WORKING AT 2-1-1 THAT CAN
RESPOND TO ISSUES, BETTER THAN 
9-1-1, BETTER THAN THE POLICE. 
BUT GOING TO TRANSIT, THAT'S 
JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE CITY'S 
FIRST INSTINCT BEING POLICING. 
HOW CAN WE CRIMINALIZE THIS?
HOW CAN WE FIND PEOPLE?
WE SHOULD HAVE WAYS TO PROVIDE 
PEOPLE SERVICES. 
AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S 
WHAT MUNICIPALITIES DO THE BEST.
AND THAT'S A BETTER EDMONTON, IN
MY EYES.
>> THANK YOU. 
STAFF SERGEANT, THE SAME 
QUESTION TO YOU. 
WHEN A CALL COMES IN, I JUST 
WANT YOU TO KIND OF EXPLAIN THE 
NATURE OF IT. 
ARE YOU THERE? 
>> I'M HERE. 
I'M WAITING YOU TO FINISH YOUR 
QUESTION THERE.
>> HOW DO WE DECIDE HOW WE 
RESPOND? 
>> OK, THE INFORMATION THAT IS 
SHARED ON ANY 9-1-1 CALL OR ANY 
CALL TO THE COMPLAINT LINE, WE 
GLEAN ALL THAT INFORMATION AS 
CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE. 
OUR EVALUATORS ARE TRAINED UP IN
OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO
ASK CERTAIN QUESTIONS THAT WOULD
HELP US TO DETERMINE WHAT THE 
BEST WAY TO RESPOND IS. 
OFTENTIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S 
ON THE OTHER END OF THAT CALL. 
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE WALKING
INTO. 
SO, OUR FIRST AVENUE IS TO 
ASSESS FIRST. 
AND GET THAT INFORMATION. 
WE ALSO HAVE IF WE'VE BEEN TO 
THAT LOCATION IN THE PAST, WE 
LOOK INTO PAST EVENTS THAT HAVE 
BEEN THERE, TO HELP US HAVE A 
DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
SITUATION IS THAT WE'RE WALKING 
INTO. 
WHEN WE GET THERE, WE HAVE 
OPTIONS DEPENDING ON WHAT WE 
SEE, WE HAVE TO TALK TO PEOPLE, 
WE LOOK AT THE SURROUNDINGS AND 
THEN WHEN POSSIBLE OR 
APPROPRIATE, WE CALL IN OUR 
PARTNER AGENCY. 
IF IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH CALL, WE
WILL CONTACT OUR AREA WHICH IS 
POLICE COMBINED WITH A MENTAL 
HEALTH NURSE. 
I LOVE WORKING WITH OUR 
PARTNERS. 
AND OUR PARTNERS MAKE US STRONG 
AND DIVERSIFIED AS WELL. 
AND THAT IS CRITICAL IN HOW WE 
DO BUSINESS AND WORKING WITH OUR
PARTNERS. 
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE 
WALKING INTO WHEN WE FIRST GET 
THERE. 
AND OUR FIRST PRIORITY IS 
EVERYONE'S SAFETY. 
FROM THERE WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE 
HELP.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, DO I 
HAVE MORE TIME LEFT?
>> Mayor Don Iveson: I'M AFRAID 
IT'S EXPIRED. 
BUT THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: NEXT IS 
COUNCILLOR McKEEN. 
>> THANK YOU AND BRITNEY, I'M 
GOING TO PRAISE YOU. 
FIRST OF ALL I WANTED TO THANK 
YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP TODAY 
AND COURAGE AND VULNERABILITY. 
I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY, VERY HARD
TO HEAR WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH. 
BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT IN
A CASE OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT, I 
THINK IT WOULD BE A PRETTY 
COMMON ATTITUDE THAT WE WOULD 
WANT THE BAD GUY CAUGHT AND 
PUNISHED. 
YOU TALK ABOUT TRANSFORMATIVE 
JUSTICE. 
HOW CAN THAT APPLY TO A SEXUAL 
ASSAULT? 
>> CERTAINLY. 
THANK YOU FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF MY EXPERIENCE. 
IT SUCKED. 
THE WORK I DO WITH THE NONPROFIT
I RUN AND COLLABORATE ON WITH 
SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, 
ESSENTIALLY A SURVIVOR WILL COME
TO US AND SEEK THAT SERVICE AND 
SO WHAT RESTORATIVE AND 
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE SEEKS TO 
DO IS HOLISTICICALLY ADDRESS 
HARM SO RATHER THAN THE ULTIMATE
PUNITIVE MEASURES THAT WERE SO 
USED TO AND WE'RE SO ENTRENCHED 
IN BY DEMANDING PUNISHMENT AND 
SOMEONE GOING TO JAIL FOR A 
SEXUAL ASSAULT, WE WOULD RATHER 
SEEK TO CREATE SOME SORT OF 
HEALING AND REPARATIVE PROCESS 
WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP. 
SO THE SURVIVOR WOULD COME TO 
OUR GROUP AND SEEK SUPPORT AND 
WE WOULD REACH OUT IF IT'S SAFE 
TO DO SO OF COURSE TO THE 
PERPETRATOR. 
AND IF THAT PERSON IS ALSO SO 
WILLING TO ENGAGE IN THIS 
PROCESS, HOLD THEMSELVES 
ACCOUNTABLE AND LEARN HOW THEY 
CAN UNDO THOSE ENGRAINED 
PROPENSITIES FOR VIOLENCE. 
THEN WE WOULD DO SOME SORT OF 
EITHER A TALKING CIRCUMSTANCE 
AND WILL ALL THIS IS ROOTED VERY
DEEPLY IN INDIGENOUS PRACTICE 
AND SO, LED BY INDIGENOUS 
LEADERS, IDEALLY THIS WOULD BE A
REALLY WONDERFUL IDEA TO BUILD 
SOME SORT OF PROGRAMME WITH 
THEM. 
>> YEAH, I'VE SEEN RESTORATIVE 
JUSTICE TWO OR THREE TIMES. 
IT WAS AMAZING. 
I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD APPLY IN
THE AREA OF SEX CRIMES THOUGH, 
TO BE HONEST. 
>> IT'S HARD TO DO. 
LIKE THERE ARE CERTAIN EXAMPLES 
LIKE DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY FOR 
EXAMPLE IS A GREAT STORY WHO 
USED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN A 
WAY THAT CREATED A LOT OF 
BACKLASH UNFORTUNATELY IN THE 
COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK IT'S 
BECAUSE OF OUR SOCIALIZED 
NATURE, WE'RE TRAINED TO WANT TO
SEE PUNISHMENT INSTEAD OF 
HEALING FROM A PERPETRATOR WHICH
I BELIEVE TO BE VERY POSSIBLE. 
I THINK WE WANT TO SEE THAT 
REVENGE. 
SO I THINK IN THE PUBLIC IT WAS 
THE WRONG CALL BUT I KNOW THE 
SURVIVORS FROM WHAT I'VE READ IN
RESEARCH FOLLOWING THAT INSTANCE
OF USE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE 
AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IT WAS VERY 
MUCH HEALING FOR THEM BECAUSE IT
DIDN'T RESULT IN THE TRAUMA OF 
GOING THROUGH THE CRIMINAL 
JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH WAS A WHOLE
OTHER STORY. 
I COULD TALK YOUR EAR OFF. 
BUT I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.
>> IT IS A MIND-BLOWING CONCEPT.
AND A LOT OF OF THE SUBMISSIONS 
WE'VE HAD THIS WEEK HAVE BEEN 
MIND BLOWING, TO BE HONEST AND I
THINK THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO 
START FOR A LOT OF US TO HAVE 
HAD OUR MINDS BLOWN. 
I JUST -- YEAH. 
I NEEDED TO SAY THAT. 
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE 
SUBMISSIONS AND AGAIN TO YOU 
MS. RUDYK, I JUST WANTED TO 
THANK YOU AGAIN. 
WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF WOMEN COME
FORWARD THIS WEEK AND TALK ABOUT
THEIR OWN SEXUAL ASSAULTS. 
TREMENDOUS COURAGE TO DO THAT. 
AND MAYBE YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL 
HELP TO DESTIGMATIZE THAT AS 
WELL FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHICH 
SHOULD HAPPEN. 
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
THANKS ALL OF YOU. 
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU. 
NEXT IS COUNCILLOR KNACK.
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. 
AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE 
WHO HAS PRESENTED IN THIS PANEL 
AND ALL OF THE PANELS. 
IT WAS ELI TOMKINS, CORRECT?
YES. 
>> I WANTED TO ASK, WE'VE HEARD 
FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT 
DEFUNDING OR A VARIETY OF 
THINGS. 
WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THOSE 
FOLKS WE HAVE HEARD AND I THINK 
WE DID HEAR IT IN THE PANEL AND 
TO DESIRE TO SEE IF WE COULD 
BUILD BRIDGES. 
DO YOU FEEL THAT'S POSSIBLE 
ANYMORE FOR YOURSELF?
BECAUSE I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF
SPEAKERS TODAY, FROM THE LAST 
TWO WEEKS THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE 
BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES, THEY
DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S WORTH 
THEIR TIME ANYMORE SOME I WANTED
TO MAYBE PUT THAT TO YOU AND GET
YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, IF YOU'RE
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT QUESTION. 
>> YEAH, I PERSONALLY I DON'T 
THINK I WOULD WANT TO TALK TO 
POLICE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. 
THEY FAILED MY FAMILY. 
THEY FAILED ME. 
WE ONLY GOT A COUPLE E-MAILS 
ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION. 
IT'S I THINK IN SITUATIONS LIKE 
MINE AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, 
THEY DON'T WANT TO BUILD BRIDGES
AGAIN BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN HURT 
SO BAD.
THEY DON'T TRUST THE POLICE AND 
ME AND MY FAMILY DON'T TRUST THE
POLICE ANYMORE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
I'VE GENERALLY TRIED TO ASK 
THOSE WHO MAY NOT NORMALLY COME 
TO PUBLIC HEARINGS, I'M GOING TO
BREAK THAT THIS MOMENT JUST TO 
MAYBE ASK STAFF SERGEANT 
MS. PAGE I BELIEVE. 
AND I DO WANT TO PUT THAT 
SIMILAR QUESTION IN REVERSE TO 
YOU WHICH IS SOMETHING I HAVE 
HEARD THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND 
IT'S BEEN HARD TO HEAR IS PEOPLE
FEEL THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED THEM 
AND TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S NOT JUST
POLICING. 
PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME THAT I'VE
FAILED THEM BY NOT DOING 
ANYTHING. 
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN 
LEADERSHIP ROLES THAT HAVE 
FAILED THEM FOR TOO LONG AND 
DON'T WANT TO BOTHER COMING TO 
THE TABLE. 
IN SOME PEOPLE'S CASES, THEY 
CAME TO THE TABLE. 
THEY PUT FORWARD INFORMATION, 
THEY SUGGESTED THEY'VE DONE 
THESE THINGS AND I THINK THIS IS
A QUESTION I WANT TO BE ABLE TO 
ASK WHEN WE GET TO QUESTIONS OF 
THE COMMISSION AND CHIEF AS 
WELL. 
BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE 
FORCE FOR A WHILE, HOW DO YOU 
RESPOND TO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A 
DESIRE TO BUILD THOSE BRIDGES 
AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE
AND AGAIN I'M PUTTING MYSELF IN 
THIS THAT WE HAVE FAILED PEOPLE 
AND HOW DO WE I MEAN, WHAT'S 
YOUR REACTION AND HOW OLD YOU 
SEE US TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT? 
>> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK 
ELI FOR BEING SO HONEST AND 
SHARING HIS HEART. 
I'M SORRY THAT YOU FEEL THIS WAY
AND IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT YOU 
FEEL DISAPPOINTED AND IN WHAT IN
YOUR INTERACTION WITH POLICE. 
IT'S DISHEARTENING FOR US AND I 
APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. 
HOW DO WE BILL THOSE BRIDGES. 
I THINK IT WILL BE WORKING WITH 
THE COMMUNITIES FIRST. 
SO IF ELI IS NOT WILLING OR NOT 
ABLE TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH 
US, THEN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT 
TO START BUILDING THOSE BRIDGES 
WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT HI DOES 
TRUST OR SORRY, I MISSED YOUR 
PRONOUNS, ELI SO I'M SORRY IF I 
INSULT YOU. 
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUILD 
BRIDGES WITH THE COMMUNITIES 
THAT ARE IN A POSITION OF TRUST 
AND PERHAPS IN THAT WAY WE CAN 
BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS UNTIL 
THERE IS TRUST DEVELOPED. 
I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND 
TALK WITH ELI AT SOME POINT IN 
TIME. 
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE BUT I 
TOTALLY UNDERSTAND NOT BEING IN 
A POSITION OF TRUSTING AND I 
RESPECT THAT. 
SO I THINK BUILDING A 
RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES 
THAT ELI DOES TRUST I THINK IS A
CRITICAL FIRST STEP.
>> THANK YOU. 
SORRY MR. MAYOR. 
I FORGET TO START MY TIMER. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: YOU HAVE 
TIME FOR ONE MORE. 
>> MS. WARREN, I WANTED TO ASK 
YOU A QUESTION, YOU COME AT IT 
FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE BECAUSE 
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING TO BUILD UP 
AND REVITALIZE THE COMMUNITY 
THAT YOU'VE BEEN LIVING IN FOR 
SOME TIME. 
WE'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY 
MEMBERS EVEN WITHIN THE 
NEIGHBOURHOODS THAT ARE AROUND 
THERE WHO SAID SIMILAR THINGS, 
THAT THEY FEEL IT'S NOT WORTH 
THEIR TIME TO COME TO THE TABLE 
WHO DON'T FEEL SAFE AND MAY NOT 
BE COMING OUT TO THESE EVENTS 
THEN. 
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS AROUND 
HOW WE ADDRESS THAT IF THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO COME 
OUT TO AN EVENT, WHAT IS THE 
POSSIBILITY TO TRY WITH THAT?
AND TO ENGAGE PEOPLE? 
>> IT'S A STRUGGLE, RIGHT?
IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE TO 
COME OUT IF THEY DON'T FEEL 
SAFE. 
SO I THINK THE BIG THING IS 
FEELING SAFE AND I KNOW MYSELF 
WHEN I WAS NOT AT ALL A 
SPOKESPERSON IN ANY WAY FOR 
COMMUNITY WHEN WE MOVED IN 26 
YEARS AGO, WE KEPT THINKING HOW 
CAN WE MOVE OUT OF HERE AND IT 
WASN'T UNTIL A NEIGHBOUR REACHED
OUT AND SAID COME TO ONE OF THE 
MEETINGS. 
IT'S A GREAT PLACE, YOUR VOICE 
WILL BE HEARD AND IT WAS A 
REINVITE MEETING AND THEN I CAME
OUT OFTEN IT'S THAT ONE ON ONE 
CONTACT THAT HELPS BRING THOSE 
PEOPLE OUT AND YOU'RE RIGHT. 
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE 
COMMUNITY THAT HAVEN'T COME OUT 
TO EVENTS OR TO INITIATIVES AND 
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO GET 
IT DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL. 
THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THE BACK 
ALLEY PARTIES. 
IT WAS LIKE GOING BACK TO THE 
OLD DAYS OF DOOR KNOCKING TO SAY
HEY, WE'RE YOUR NEIGHBOUR, HOW 
IS IT GOING AND OUT OF THAT LIKE
WE ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY WORK 
WITH THE SOCIAL WORKERS, WORK 
WITH THE POLICE. 
BEING ABLE TO DO FOOD SECURITY 
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TURN INTO
THIS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A 
COMMUNITY PARTY BUT IT WAS 
DEUTSCHE TO DOOR KNOCKING AND 
THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK. 
BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT BECAUSE
ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE PEOPLE ARE
NOW CONNECTING TO EACH OTHER AND
SOME DIDN'T, RIGHT?
SOME PEOPLE CAME FOR A HOT DOG 
AND THAT IS WHAT THEY WANTED BUT
IT'S A REAL MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB SO
I THINK IT'S JUST DOOR TO DOOR. 
IT'S THAT REALLY CONNECTING 
PEOPLE TO PEOPLE AND THEM 
FEELING SAFE WITH THEIR 
NEIGHBOURS AND IF THEY DON'T 
FEEL SAFE THEN THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO COME OUT. 
SO IT'S A STRUGGLE. 
>> I'M OUT OF TIME. 
THANK YOU. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU. 
COUNCILLOR PAQUETTE. 
>> THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AGAIN. 
I WOULD LOVE TO ASK ALL OF YOU 
QUESTIONS. 
WE HAVE ONE ROUND, FIVE MINUTES 
EACH. 
SO I THINK I WILL ASK SHINY, IF 
YOU'RE STILL THERE. 
FIRST QUESTION I'VE GOT.
>> HI. 
SO THIS HAS BEEN A VERY 
DIFFICULT CONVERSATION AND I 
THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S BEEN 
CONFUSION, DEEP CONFUSION AROUND
THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE 
ARE LOOKING AT. 
SO SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT 
THERE'S GOING TO BE A SUDDEN 
DISPERCENT OF ALL LAW AND ORDER 
OVERNIGHT WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY NOT
SOMETHING COUNCIL WOULD EVER DO.
AND THEN THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS 
IDEA THAT ALL OF THE EXPERTISE 
THAT HAVE BEEN GAINED BY ALL OF 
THE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE
WORKED IN ALL THE AREAS OF THE 
SERVICE, THAT ALL THAT'S GOING 
TO GET THROWN OUT TOO IF 
SOMETHING CHANGES, WHICH IS 
OBVIOUSLY, OBVIOUSLY NOT THE 
CASE. 
WE WOULD NEVER GET RID OF 
ANYTHING THAT HELPS US. 
SO, MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS ABOUT
SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES THERE ARE
GOOD PEOPLE IN THE SYSTEM, BUT 
THE SYSTEM ITSELF IS NOT GOOD TO
PEOPLE. 
>> TRANSFORMING IT INTO 
SOMETHING HELPS EVERYONE. 
AND I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR 
THOUGHTS ARE. 
WHO TALKS TO PEOPLE IN TIMES OF 
CRISIS, IF WE DON'T CHANGE THESE
SYSTEMS ARE WE GOING TO MAKE A 
POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN ALL THOSE
PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES. 
>> CAN YOU TURN THIS INTO A 
QUESTION? 
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS A QUESTION
MARK AT THE END OF IT. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: WHO WAS IT 
DIRECTED TOWARDS? 
>> WAS A SHE HAS BEEN DEALING 
ONE ON ONE WITH PEOPLE IN A WAY 
THAT WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD
REACH OUT TO PEOPLE. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: OK, GO 
AHEAD.
>> WHAT I MEAN LAKE TAKE WHAT I 
WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER WAS 
NOT ABOLISHING THE POLICE RIGHT 
OFF THE BAT AND THERE ARE PEOPLE
IN THE POLICE FORCE THAT DO HAVE
SPECIALIZED CARE, IN MENTAL 
HEALTH AND THAT'S IMPORTANT AND 
MORE POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD GET 
MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING. 
HOWEVER SOME POLICE OFFICERS 
AREN'T EQUIPPED TO BE DEALING 
WITH MENTAL HEALTH, MAYBE 
BECAUSE OF THEIR TRAUMA. 
ALL THE CAL THAT'S COME IN, 
THEY'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THESE 
MENTAL ISSUES FOR A LONG PERIOD 
OF TIME. 
FINALLY THEY HIT THE POINT WHERE
THEY JUST HAVE A CRISIS 
SITUATION AND THAT'S WHEN THEY 
CALL. 
AND SO, WHAT HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR
TO ME IS THE FACT THAT THEY NEED
ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT 
THAT WE AREN'T ABLE TO GIVE ALL 
THE TIME AND THEREFORE 
COUNSELLING SERVICES. 
SHOULD BE PROVIDED IF POSSIBLE. 
SO YEAH, I'M SAYING THAT SYSTEM 
CHANGE IS NECESSARY AND IN TERMS
OF DIVESTING, WE NEED TO DIVEST 
MORE FOR THE COMMUNITIES IN 
TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH 
RESOURCES, SO THAT PREVENTATIVE 
CHANGE CAN BE IN PLACE INSTEAD 
OF PUNITIVE JUSTICE. 
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. 
AND I JUST WANT TO HONOUR AND 
THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COME UP
TO SPEAK TO US AND SHARE THEIR 
PAIN, THEIR THOUGHTS, THEIR 
IDEAS, THEIR HOPES, THEIR ANGER 
AND THEIR JOY. 
THIS HAS BEEN QUITE THE JOURNEY 
AND WE ARE ALL TRULY HUMBLED. 
AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: ANY OTHER 
QUESTIONS?  
COUNCILLOR PAQUETTE, IF YOU 
COULD TAKE THE CHAIR. 
>> I HAVE THE CHAIR. 
>> SO FIRST OF ALL. 
ELI, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR 
PANELISTS BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR
HEART-BREAKING STORY AND I THINK
THERE'S A CONSISTENT THEME FROM 
A NUMBER OF THE COMMENTS HERE 
ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE 
IN THE CASE OF CALLS THAT 
REQUIRE MENTAL HEALTH 
INTERVENTIONS AND WHAT'S THE 
RIGHT SUPPORT. 
IF WE WERE TO AND I WILL ASK THE
SAME QUESTION TO SHAINY IN A 
MINUTE, BUT FIRST TO YOU ELI. 
CAN YOU IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHERE
A VARIETY OF PEOPLE FROM A 
VARIETY OF AGENCIES COME TO 
RESPOND TO THE SITUATIONS THAT 
MIGHT INCLUDE POLICE OR THEY 
MIGHT COME IN THE SAME CAR BUT 
THEY MIGHT REPORT TO DIFFERENT 
AGENCIES OR THE SAME AGENCY BUT 
SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE OFFICERS, 
SOME OF THE MIGHT BE PUBLIC 
HEALTH NURSES. 
SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE SOCIAL 
WORKERS. 
IN YOUR MIND IS THERE AN 
APPROPRIATE WAY FOR YOUR 
COMMUNITIES. 
AGENCIES TO SHOW UP?
IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE SAFE BUT 
THAT ALSO IS SAFE FOR THOSE 
FRONT LINE WORKERS DEPENDING ON 
WHAT THEY MIGHT ENCOUNTER? 
>> YEAH, I THINK IF SOMEONE CAME
TO SEE ME AND MY FAMILY AND I 
KNEW THAT THEY HAVE WORKED WITH 
PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED 
BY POLICE, OR PEOPLE WHO WORK 
WITH MINORITIES, I THINK I WOULD
FEEL SAFE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY
KNOW ABOUT THE BAD THINGS THAT 
THE POLICE DOES. 
YEAH, I DON'T THINK I WOULD 
DIRECTLY TALK TO A POLICE 
OFFICER OR SOMEONE THAT DIRECTLY
TALKS WITH THE POLICE. 
I THINK IF SOMEONE FROM LIKE A 
DIFFERENT AGENCY TALKED TO ME, I
WOULD FEEL FREE TO TALK TO THEM.
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THAT'S 
HELPFUL AND THE SAME QUESTION TO
SHAINY? 
>> I AGREE WITH ELI. 
I DO AGREE THAT HAVING A 
DIFFERENT ASSORTMENT OF PEOPLE 
COMING IN RESPONSE TO A CRISIS 
SITUATION IS BETTER THAN JUST 
HAVING THE POLICE THEMSELVES AND
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE 
MIGHT BE AFRAID OF HOW THEY 
LOOK. 
THEY MIGHT NOT BE WILLING TO 
OPEN UP. 
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE DEALING 
WITH THE VERY SENSITIVE 
SITUATION. 
>> NOW IF A VEHICLE OF WHATEVER 
COLOUR WITH WHATEVER STRIPES ON 
IT SHOWS UP AND IT HAS TWO 
PEOPLE IN IT, ONE OF WHOM IS A 
TRADITIONAL POLICE OFFICER AND 
ONE OF WHOM IS A MENTAL HEALTH 
WORKER AND THEY HAPPEN TO ARRIVE
IN THE SAME CAR AND THE INITIAL 
CONTACT IS THE MENTAL HEALTH 
WORKER, SOCIAL WORKER AND THE 
POLICE OFFICER IS THE BACKUP IN 
THAT CASE, IS THAT A MODEL THAT 
YOU THINK CAN BE MADE TO WORK OR
COULD BE SAFE? 
>> I'M NOT SURE OF ALL THE 
MODELS THAT ARE OUT THERE SO I 
CAN'T ASSESS IT PROPERLY, BUT I 
HAVE HEARD OF A SITUATION IN 
WHICH A PERSON WAS THINKING OF 
DYING BY SUICIDE AND POLICE SAID
COME TO THE SPOT AND THEY PARKED
THE CAR FAR AWAY AND THEY DIDN'T
TURN OFF THE ALARM OR THEIR 
SIRENS AND THEY WALKED TO THE 
SITUATION. 
SO, SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL. 
SO, YEAH. 
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERED 
YOUR QUESTION. 
>> THAT'S OK. 
I THINK YOUR QUESTION HONOURS 
THE COMPLEXITY OF THE MANY 
DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT 
COMMUNITY SAFETY WORKERS MAY 
ENCOUNTER. 
I CAN'T READ MY OWN NOTES, I 
APOLOGIZE. 
SOMEONE MENTIONED THE YUKON 
MODEL? 
>> I DID. 
HI.
>> HI, I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF
READING ABOUT THAT. 
NOW THAT SEEMS LIKE AN 
INTERESTING IN BETWEEN WHERE 
THOSE FOLKS ARE EMPOWERED AS 
OFFICERS. 
THEIR COMMUNITY SAFETY OFFICERS 
IN THE CSO PROGRAMME. 
DO YOU THINK THAT THAT, IS IT 
POSSIBLE AND THIS IS FROM A 
GOVERNANCE AND CULTURAL POINT OF
VIEW, COULD A COMMUNITY SAFETY 
SERVICE SAFELY INCLUDE 
TRADITIONAL POLICE RESPONDING TO
HIGHER INTENSITY CALLS, 
COMMUNITY SERVICE SAFETY 
OFFICERS LIKE THE YUKON MODEL 
AND MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS ALL 
REPORTING AND DISPATCHED IN AN 
INTEGRATED WAY OR WOULD THAT BE 
A DRAMATIC ENOUGH CHANGE TO SHOW
THAT WE'VE HEARD OR DO YOU STILL
THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE FURTHER 
THAN THAT? 
>> I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT 
SCALING THE YUKON MODEL. 
AND THAT'S WHY MY PERSONAL 
VIEWS, I THINK THAT THE TWO 
SEPARATE CULTURES NEEDED TO DEAL
WITH THE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES. 
AND THE PROBLEM IS KEEPING THE, 
BAD, YES, NO, BLACK, WHY CULTURE
WITH A SHADES OF GRAY PROBLEM 
SOLVER. 
KIND OF CULTURE. 
THERE HAS TO BE A KIND OF 
SEPARATION BETWEEN THOSE. 
I THINK THEY HAVE TO WORK 
TOGETHER AND BRIDGE COMMUNITY 
TOGETHER. 
THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE HOW DO
WE CREATE A SITUATION AND I 
UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING 
FROM IN YOUR QUESTIONS THAT YOU 
CAN STILL SEND AN OFFICER ALONG 
WITH THEM. 
I'M NOT SURE THAT THE SAME CAR 
MODEL MIGHT BE RIGHT. 
BUT THERE HAS TO BE AN 
ACCEPTANCE AND THERE HAS TO BE 
ACCEPTANCE OF THE SHADES OF GRAY
KIND OF PEOPLE. 
I THINK YOU WILL GET THE BEST 
RESULTS ARE RECOGNIZING THAT 
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF
WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE 
SITUATION. 
IT MAY REQUIRE A TELEVISION 
COMMERCIAL KIND OF THING. 
WITH NEED TO EDUCATE 
EDMONTONIANS, IF YOU'RE DEALING 
WITH A POLICE ISSUE, THAT THEY 
HAVE OTHER OPTIONS. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU. 
I'M OUT OF TIME. 
I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON THAT BUT 
I'M AFRAID I'M OUT OF TIME. 
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK AND 
DIDN'T GET A CHANCE MS. RUDYK 
FOR HER ADVOCACY AND COMMENTARY 
ECHOING WHAT COUNCILLOR McKEEN 
SAID AND TO ALL OF OUR 
PANELISTS. 
I WANT TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE 
ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM 
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? 
>> MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST SAY,
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY 
WHO CAME OUT IN THE PAST TWO 
WEEKS TO SPEAK. 
I HAVEN'T ASKED A QUESTION. 
I TOOK THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LISTEN AND TO LEARN. 
AND IT'S BEEN A REALLY HUMBLING 
EXPERIENCE. 
I WANTED TO RELAY MY GRATITUDE 
TO ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE 
COME OUT TO SPEAK TO US. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU 
FOR THAT, COUNCILLOR HAMILTON. 
I FEEL THE SAME WAY AND I THINK 
MOST MEMBERS OF COUNCIL DO. 
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CLOSING 
COMMENTS OF GRATITUDE? 
>> MR. MAYOR. 
>> COUNCILLOR DZIADYK. 
>> YES, I ECHO WHAT COUNCILLOR 
HAMILTON JUST SAID. 
IT'S BEEN VERY ENLIGHTENING FOR 
ME. 
I'VE REALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT 
THE WORD IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT 
ENJOYED WITH YOU I REALLY 
APPRECIATED LISTENING TO 
EVERYONE AND I THINK EVERYONE 
HAS BROUGHT A PERSPECTIVE TO THE
PUBLIC THAT'S LISTENING, THAT 
KNOWS OUR PROCESS, WE WILL NOW 
CONSIDER WHAT YOU'VE ALL SAID 
AND REFLECT UPON IT FOR A FEW 
MORE DAYS BEFORE WE GET A CHANCE
TO DEBATE THE MOTION ON THE 
FLOOR. 
SO, PLEASE KNOW YOUR CONCERNS 
HAVE BEEN NOTED BY MYSELF AND 
I'M SURE OTHER COUNCILLORS, SO I
THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART IN 
THIS PROCESS. 
AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WE 
REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE 
PUBLIC AND THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT
VENUE FOR THAT. 
I'M ALSO APPRECIATIVE OF THE 
CLESHS WHO PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER
AND THE MAYOR FOR SHARING THIS. 
I THINK IT'S BEEN A FAIRLY 
EFFECTIVE FORMAT. 
GIVEN WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH 
WITH THE TECHNOLOGY HERE. 
THANK YOU. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU. 
ANYBODY ELSE? 
>> MR. MAYOR I KNOW I'VE ASKED A
LOT OF QUESTIONS BUT IF YOU 
WOULD INDULGE ME A LITTLE BIT. 
>> WELL, THE OTHERS I'M NOT 
GOING TO OPEN SPEAKING OR DEBATE
ON FOLKS THAT HAVEN'T ASKED 
QUESTIONS I THINK HAVE SAID A 
FEW THINGS BUT I THINK STRICTLY 
SPEAK FIGURE YOU WERE TO BEGIN 
TO SPEAK, I WOULD NEED A MOTION 
FOR THAT. 
SO, GIVEN A LITTLE BIT OF 
LATITUDE HERE, I'M AT RISK OF 
BEING CALLED TO ORDER AS IT IS. 
SO, I THINK WE'LL ALL HAVE MORE 
TO SAY ABOUT THIS ALL NEXT WEEK 
AND WE HAVE OTHER CHANNELS TO 
COMMENT IN THE MEANTIME AND BE 
ASKED BY OUR CONSTITUENTS AND 
THE MEDIA ABOUT OUR REACTIONS. 
I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY STOP 
THERE. 
SO WHAT WE DO NEED TO DO AGAIN 
FINAL THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS
TODAY. 
WHAT WE DO NEED TO DO NOW IS 
REFER THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO
THE 9:30 A.M. ITEM OF BUSINESS 
ON JUNE 30th. 
>> SO IT'S TO THE JUNE 29th-30th
MEETING AND IT WILL BE TIME 
SPECIFIC AND WE WILL SEND THAT 
IN A CHAT RIGHT NOW. 
>> SO MOVED. 
>> THANK YOU COUNCILLOR BANGA, 
SECOND BY COUNCILLOR McKEEN. 
OK SO I THINK WE CAN MOVE OR 
PARDON ME, WE CAN VOTE ON 
REFERRAL AND WHILE THAT VOTING 
IS HAPPENING, JUST TO NARRATE 
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE PUBLIC 
FOLLOWING ALONG, WE WILL RESUME 
QUESTIONS FIRST AND THEN GET 
INTO DEBATE ON ANY AMENDMENTS 
THAT COME FORWARD IN THE MOTION 
ITSELF WHICH WILL LIKELY RUN 
WELL INTO THE DAY AND 
POTENTIALLY BEYOND THE ONE DAY 
THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR THIS. 
HAVE WE GOT ALL THE VOTES?  
>> YES. 
>> WE HAVE 13. 
>> DISPLAY THE VOTE. 
REFERRAL IS PASSED. 
ONE LAST ITEM OF BUSINESS BEFORE
I ADJOURN, THIS PART OF THE 
PROCESS WHICH IS SOME 
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COUNCIL 
CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK, SO I 
NEED AND THIS IS JUST IN ORDER 
TO SET A VERY SPECIFIC TIME 
SPECIFIC FOR THE YELLOW HEAD 
CONVERSION CONVERSATION OF 
INQUIRY OFFICERS REPORT RELATIVE
TO THE EXPROPRIATIONS. 
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SET 
A SPECIFIC TIME AND MEETING 
SPACE FOR THAT. 
SO I NEED A MOTION TO WAIVE THE 
REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE A SCHEDULE 
CHANGE. 
>> SO MOVED. 
>> THANK YOU MR. HAMILTON, 
SECOND BY COUNCILLOR BANGA, I 
BELIEVE. 
PLEASE VOTE TO PERMIT CHANGES TO
THE OR TO WAIVE NOTICE SO WE CAN
MAKE A SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENT.
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE 13. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THANK YOU, 
DISPLAY THE VOTE. 
NOTICE IS WAIVED AND CAN I GET 
SOMEONE TO MOVE THAT THE ORDERS 
OF THE DAY FOR THE JUNE 29th, 
2020 CITY COUNCIL MEETING BE 
CHANGED TO RECESS AT 3:45 WITH 
CONTINUATION ON JUNE 30th, 2020 
FROM 9:30 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M.
SO THAT WOULD BE FOR THE NORMAL 
COUNCIL BUSINESS. 
AND NEEDS TO BE A SEPARATE 
MEETING FOR SOME TECHNICAL 
REASONS AND IT WOULD BE THEN 
THAT A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL 
MEETING BE HELD ON JUNE 29th, 
2020 FROM 4:15 P.M. TO 5:30 P.M.
TO DEAL WITH THE APPROVAL OF 
EXPROPRIATIONS, YELLOWHEAD TRAIL
FREEWAY CONVERSION, 
CONSIDERATION OF INQUIRED 
OFFICERS REPORT FOR 12504 AND 
THE COUNCIL WILL HEAR FROM THE 
PUBLIC ON THIS MATTER.
>> SO MOVED. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: SECONDED BY
COUNCILLOR McKEEN AND JUST TO 
EXPLAIN A TINY BIT MORE NORMALLY
WE WOULD DEAL WITH THIS AT AN 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAVING THOSE, 
WE NEED TO CREATE A SPECIAL 
FORUM AND IT'S BETTER IF IT'S 
SUBPOENA PRATT FROM THE REST OF 
COUNCIL BUSINESS. 
SO A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING IN 
CLERK AND LAW'S ADVICE FOR THE 
RIGHT PLACE TO HAVE A FOCUSED 
CONVERSATION ON A STAFF OR THELY
DEFINED TO THE INQUIRING 
OFFICERS REPORTED. 
IT'S THE SAME TIME HELD IN YOUR 
CALENDAR. 
THE BREAK WOULD BE LATER THAN 
NORMAL. 
QUESTIONS?  
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT?
NOT SEEING ANY, THEN PLEASE VOTE
TO MAKE THE SCHEDULE CHANGES. 
>> YES. 
>> WE'RE MISSING ONE VOTE. 
AND THAT'S 13. 
>> Mayor Don Iveson: THAT'S 
CARRIED. 
IS THIS A NOTICE OF MOTION 
OPPORTUNITY?
I'LL CALL FOR NOTICES. 
ANY NOISES OF MOTION AT THIS 
TIME?
SEEING NONE, THEN THIS MEETING 
IS ADJOURNED, HOWEVER THE 
MATTERS DISCUSSED HERE WE'LL 
PICK UP AT 9:30 A.M. ON NEXT 
TUESDAY. 
THANK YOU AGAIN, EVERYONE. 
