'Increasing the stigma': Advocates call out Edmonton police chief for comments on meth
The Edmonton Police Service confirmed last week that crime is on the rise in 2022, and the city’s police chief pointed at methamphetamines as a contributing factor.
“The bigger concern in relation to violence for us is meth,” Dale McFee said on Aug. 4.
“Meth keeps you awake; you’re violent. Normal people do not normal things.”
But advocates are pushing back, saying blaming drug users only helps the stigma to thrive.
“I think making statements like that is very dangerous for the people that are out in the streets. I think you’re painting them all with one brush,” said Angie Staines of 4B Harm Reduction Society.
Staines says her son is a user, but she leads an outreach group too.
“We’re building relationships and trust where there isn’t a lot of trust right now.”
“I have conversations with meth users numerous times an evening when I’m out there, and do not feel threatened. Absolutely is there situations that I make sure that I distance myself from? Absolutely. But to paint a whole community, that is increasing the stigma and stigma kills.”
While McFee did acknowledge there is a difference between the vulnerable on the street and those committing crimes, Staines says it’s not enough.
She says people on the streets prefer to deal with social agencies instead of police.
“Of course the police play a role and they need to, but we need to do more with working with agencies."
With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Joe Scarpelli.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.