BONNYVILLE – Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Serina Lyons continues to advocate for establishing an emergency grant that will provide support to businesses in rural Alberta who are facing the effects of crime.
Proposals for the emergency grant were initially sent on Dec. 5, 2023, to the provincial government, in the wake of Alberta’s 2023 budget that funded $27.3 million for the Alberta Sheriffs, but the proposal did not receive traction.
With the recent implementation of a Safer Communities and Neighborhoods (SCAN) unit in Red Deer, Lyons suggests that rural communities with higher crime rates are not receiving enough support – and many of those communities are right here in the Lakeland.
“Twenty-seven million dollars has been put in throughout the province, and now there is this SCAN unit in Red Deer - it all sounds wonderful. [But] what are we seeing in the rural communities that are hit really hard? Next to nothing,” said Lyons.
She reports that according to 2023 statistics, Bonnyville was ranked third on the Canadian Crime Severity Index (CSI) for Alberta communities, while Red Deer was ranked 24th.
“In fact, five of the top 10 communities are located right here in Lakeland . . . I’ve got to scroll down to see Red Deer, Edmonton and all of these urban centers where the majority of the funding has been going,” said Lyons.
According to the Canada Crime Severity Index 2023, the 10 communities with the highest CSI include St. Paul (415.7), High Level (341.9), Bonnyville (337.3), Wetaskiwin (317.2), Valleyview (314.4), Lac La Biche (295), High Prairie (290.4), Elk Point (277.8), Peace River (276.9) and Cold Lake (241.9).
The Crime Severity Index “monitors the severity level of police-reported crime,” according to information on the CSI website. “The CSI measures the overall seriousness of crime from one year to the next by tracking both the prevalence of crime within a community, and the seriousness of the crimes committed. This provides a better understanding of the impact that crime has on individual community members, their families, and the community as a whole,” further states the website.
Lyons recommends the province implement an emergency grant to assist communities that are ranked within the top 10 positions in non-violent crime. Funds would be utilized to pay for additional security measures, such as security systems, video cameras, or security guards, as well as relief for high insurance premiums and deductibles.
Lyons said the surge in crime has had a devastating effect on the local business community with a rise in vandalism, theft, and break and enters.
“There are situations where if they file an insurance claim, they either can't pay the deductibles because they're so high, or their premiums are so high because they've already done it. They can't afford [added security measures] so they're spinning their wheels,” said Lyons.
She reports this is affecting businesses across the board and feels there needs to be emergency measures taken to support affected businesses, while the larger factors surrounding crime like systematic issues, addiction, and homelessness, continue to be tackled.
“The fact is that right now we are in an emergency situation. And when you go to emergency, the first thing they do is triage you. We need to be triaged right now,” said Lyons.
Although she realizes an emergency grant may not solve the crime issues being faced by businesses, she sees the need for some form of relief for rural businesses that are being affected by crime the most.
“We need to alleviate the pressure on our businesses and on the system right now while we look for other solutions, so businesses can keep going . . . It’s not a band-aid solution, it’s an emergency solution to a crippling problem.”
Lyons spoke about how high crime rates impact investments in the region, as investors will see those rates as a major hindrance to their supplies, building, and ability to maintain staff.
“SCAN units are good support to local RCMP. Many business owners don't want to call the RCMP because there's somebody lurking in their back alley and it's dark at 4:30 p.m. right? But these aren’t minor issues. Staff aren’t feeling safe on their own, so businesses are having to pay an additional staff member. The implications just keep growing and growing,” said Lyons.
She noted that crime is the biggest issue her members face.
“As a Chamber executive, the number one issue that my members have is the impact of crime. When CEBA loan payments were coming due right after Christmas, my businesses weren't even talking as much about that as they were about crime,” said Lyons.
In her 2023 proposal sent to Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Lyons gave a breakdown of the grant utilization and proposed total.
“[T]he total grant size to the ‘top 10’ communities amounts to $5,316,000. This funding will play a pivotal role in safeguarding our communities' economic backbone – the local businesses,” said Lyons.
She continues to seek funding for this initiative, and the recent implementation of a SCAN unit in Red Deer has re-affirmed her desire to advocate for rural businesses affected by high crime rates.
“It’s defeating for northeastern rural municipalities to see what's being spent - but we're being overlooked when we are the ones impacted the most,” said Lyons.
Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr said crime in the Lakeland area remains a significant concern that he has been speaking about on the floor of the legislature and said he has supported the emergency business grant since the beginning.
“It is one of many tools we are supporting to reduce crime and improve safety for businesses and residents alike. I even wrote a letter of support for the initiative . . . and continue to see its importance in ensuring the safety and sustainability of businesses in our region,” said Cyr.
The MLA spoke of the multiple angles the issue of crime is being addressed, including restorative justice initiatives like the Healing to Wellness Court. Other angles include addressing addiction, support for a First Nations police force, and co-ordination with regional leadership.
“While the federal government’s leniency on crime exacerbates these challenges, we are committed to finding proactive solutions at the provincial and community levels,” Cyr told Lakeland This Week.
Lyons commented that with Cyr’s support and direction, she hopes to gain traction with the province on the issue of crime in the Lakeland.
