Reclaim Public Safety

Our community is facing a unique and urgent challenge, with a sharp increase in visible crime and disorder. Medicine Hat residents are experiencing a significant rise in serious offenses like break and enter, fraud, and motor vehicle theft.

A municipality cannot create a bylaw that conflicts with federal or provincial law. Since the federal government controls the criminal code and provinces regulate drug possession, a Medicine Hat bylaw could not make possession of a decriminalized substance a municipal offense. The bylaw would have to focus on the behavioral and public safety aspects of consumption, not the act of consumption itself. This distinction is key to creating a legally sound bylaw.

Establish Local Authority and Immediate

"Public Nuisance and Consumption Bylaw" will regulate public spaces to ensure they are clean, orderly, and safe. It will not target specific individuals or criminalize substance use, but will prohibit behaviors that create a nuisance. This includes prohibiting the discarding of litter and waste, such as used needles and drug paraphernalia, and banning the consumption of any substance in areas frequented by children, such as playgrounds and parks. The bylaw will also prohibit conduct that creates a significant disturbance or impedes public access, such as aggressive or obstructive behavior.

Tiered Enforcement and Collaboration with Services: The bylaw will be enforced using a tiered approach that prioritizes education and intervention over immediate fines. Initial actions will involve officers engaging with individuals to inform them of the bylaw, issuing a warning, and offering information about available social services, housing, and addiction treatment. If a person refuses to comply, they will face a fine, with penalties increasing for repeat offenses. This approach aligns with a public health-based strategy, ensuring that enforcement is balanced with efforts to connect vulnerable individuals with the support they need to address the root causes of their behavior.

Strategic Advocacy and Systemic Reform

Form a Joint City-Police Advocacy Committee: The City Council and MHPS will form a joint committee to formally lobby the provincial government for changes to the justice system. The committee will specifically advocate for a more effective system that holds repeat offenders accountable and prioritizes public safety.

Policy on Transparency and Public Trust

Proactive Information Sharing and Public Reporting: The MHPS will enhance its public reporting to go beyond the annual report, providing a regularly updated, online "Public Safety Dashboard." This dashboard will display key metrics, including crime data by neighborhood, calls for service trends, and response times, in a clear and easily digestible format. This proactive release of information will empower residents with the data needed to understand local public safety issues and hold their leaders accountable.

Reclaim Public Safety

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