COLD LAKE - City of Cold Lake council invited MLA Scott Cyr to the Aug. 13 regular council meeting to address the escalating crime and safety issues that have been plaguing the city.
Cyr, who is the MLA for the Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul constituency, was not the only one at Tuesday’s meeting to discuss the issues of crime and safety. Representatives for the Stepping Stones Crisis Society and Cold Lake thrift store ‘Orbiting Trends’ were also in attendance, voicing frustrations and calling for more decisive action.
City of Cold Lake Coun. Vicky Lefebvre opened the discussion with the MLA by highlighting the challenges the City faces in making the community a safer place.
“We've done a number of things, but you'll see with the next presentation coming up, we're still being challenged.” Lefebvre expressed her concerns over the inefficiencies in the judicial system, noting that out of 17 cases reviewed at a recent court session, only two were addressed.
Cyr echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for more efficient legal proceedings.
“It would be nice to see some more movement through these court cases... the ones that are actually doing vicious assaults and stuff like that, those ones we have to be making sure we're getting through," Cyr stated, underscoring the urgency of addressing violent crimes more effectively.
Mayor Craig Copeland provided his own assessment of the current situation.
“It's frustrating because we've spent some time following a certain individual in our community that has caused problems... but the courthouse is way too lenient. Our business community is getting killed. Our residents are scared to go shopping some places," Copeland remarked.
He painted a picture of the situation, describing who people are living in makeshift camps containing guns, drugs, and other dangers.
"Over 70 per cent of them are from the local area... and it doesn't seem like we're winning."
The mayor emphasized the need for long-term treatment for individuals struggling with meth addiction, arguing that short-term solutions are ineffective.
“We have to have the power to put people away for treatment right off the street, and away they go for a couple of years. Meth can't be dealt with in 30 days at the Remand Centre. You're going to have to put them away for a very, very long time to succeed.”
Cyr agreed, saying, “One of the things that as soon as I got into office I worked on was a proposal for a recovery centre up here. I don't believe that we can arrest our way out of this. These addicts, they need to break the cycles that they're in."
Cyr explained that he prioritized bringing Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Dan Williams to the area to stress the importance of a recovery centre, reflecting the broader concern that more comprehensive solutions are needed to combat the ongoing issues.
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Cyr noted that the challenges faced today are not new but have persisted since his first term in office, with efforts to address them dating back to at least 2017. He expressed hope in the current Minister's approach, which includes expanding successful navigation centres from Edmonton to Calgary and exploring mobile options for assisting people in camps.
Cyr emphasized that the government's multifaceted strategy - combining restorative justice, navigation centres, and addiction recovery - will take time to work.
Thrift store concerns
Cindy Yang, the director of Stepping Stones Crisis Society, and April Simard of Orbiting Trends – a Cold Lake thrift store - were included as a delegation during Tuesday night’s council meeting, sharing their firsthand experiences of dealing with crime in downtown Cold Lake.
Orbiting Trends is a thrift store owned and operated by the Stepping Stones Crisis Society.
Yang described the situation as dire, with escalating incidents of vandalism, theft, and aggressive behaviour putting both staff and customers at risk.
“We've had numerous incidents over the last few years with an escalation in the severity and frequency in the last 12 months,” Yang reported. She outlined the measures her organization has taken, such as increasing security and modifying donation policies at the store but lamented that the issues persist.
Simard added that over the past two months, the thrift store has experienced more than 25 incidents involving drug use, vandalism, and harassment. Despite attempts to involve authorities, the issues persist, creating an increasingly unsafe and uncomfortable environment for both employees and customers who stop by Orbiting Trends.
Yang called on City council to consider additional security measures and to advocate for more mental health and addiction support as long-term solutions.
“We're hoping for long-term solutions and getting some support from mental health institutions," Yang said, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of these problems.
Copeland acknowledged the gravity of the situation and the community's frustration.
“We're not winning, but it's unfortunate and it's sad that your business is there to help people, and this is how they're treating not only you but over at the [Cold Lake] John Howard [Society]," he said, reflecting on the broader impact of the ongoing issues.
Copeland concluded the discussion by mentioning that during the upcoming budget discussions, the city will evaluate whether to enhance any services or projects. He noted that they made significant investments last tax year and will decide where to focus their efforts this year.
Addressing illegal camps
On Aug. 8, the City of Cold Lake release information stating it would be continuing to "work to strike a balance between providing shelter and support for its vulnerable population while also providing for public safety by curbing illegal encampments, aggressive panhandling, and property crime."
Statistics provided by the Cold Lake John Howard Society show that most of the population living in the shelter and in illegal camps around the city are from the City of Cold Lake and the immediate surrounding area.
"To date, Peace Officers and RCMP officers have aided in the removal of 33 encampments and transported more than 11 tonnes (over 24,000 pounds) of camp materials to the landfill. Eighteen of the encampments were on private property while 15 were found on public property," according to information from the City of Cold Lake.
