The province has rolled out measures to combat rural crime across the province.
On Nov. 6, the UCP government announced it will be taking steps to address the issue of rural crime after Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer spent weeks travelling across Alberta for town halls with rural communities, including one at the Calahoo Community Hall.
Part of the plan will include tougher rules for trespassers on rural properties, higher fines and more training for law enforcement officers.
Schweitzer said while touring the province he heard about the need for increased response times, and in response the province now plans to roll out the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence Force (RAPID Force) which will expand the roles and authorities of hundreds of peace officers and fish and wildlife officers.“These changes will provide an additional 400 (officers) to assist the RCMP and other police services to ensure security is deployed in response to 911 calls more quickly and as effectively as possible,” Schweitzer said.
The RAPID Force will not hire new officers, but utilize existing law enforcement officials differently. The province said the new force will be ready to roll out by the end of fall 2020.
On top of changes to police, the UCP are going to be strengthening the rights of property owners by altering the Occupiers’ Liability Act. The changes would retroactively take effect to Jan. 1, 2018.
“These measures will ensure that a criminal trespasser has no right of civil action against a law-abiding property owner who is defending their property and families against trespassers who are or who they believe to be in the process of committing a criminal act,” said Schweitzer.
Schweitzer said the law will not apply if the property owner has committed a criminal act.
Fines for trespassing could also increase under the new regulations five-fold.
The justice minister said some of the changes were in response to the case of Eddie Maurice, who shot and wounded an intruder who had been going through his truck on his property near Okotoks in February 2018.
Maurice’s charges were stayed but the intruder is suing the property owner for pain, suffering and lost wages.
“Every rural Albertan can relate to Eddie Maurice. Are they the next Eddie Maurice? Is it their loved one? Is it their child? You can be faced with that exact situation where you have a little one in the home and you’re faced with that situation where there’s someone on your property committing a criminal act,” Schweitzer said.
Jessica Peddle, a rural resident near Calahoo, said she applauds the government for listening and appointing someone who has taken the time to travel the province and hear from rural residents.
“There isn't any black and white solution, but hey, they are listening and trying to find a solution,” Peddle said.
Peddle added she wants to see more changes on the federal level to the justice system so criminals who commit rural crimes aren’t picked up and released in the same day.
Andrew Whitticase, another rural resident near Calahoo, said the changes do not go far enough.
“What a joke, increased fines. That’s like giving a homeless person a ticket for jaywalking," he said.
"The situation is so far out of control that it’s like putting these people in a time out."
Whitticase said property owners need more rights when it comes to protecting their property.Henry Peter said he is optimistic about the RAPID Force team.
“Giving peace officers and sheriffs expanded authorities for quicker responses will yield great results,” Peter said.
