Edmonton has more jails per capita than any other big city in Canada. Police make the arrest, paperwork gets filed, bail is granted, and within days, those same individuals are back on the streets of our city. It’s a revolving door that leaves residents frustrated, business owners vulnerable, and police officers exhausted.

When we say this problem is unique to Edmonton, it is. We need the provincial government and the federal government to recognize this and fund our city properly. 

This is not justice. And it’s not safety.

My Safe Streets Plan recognizes what Edmontonians already know: we cannot police our way out of this. True safety depends on justice and health care systems that hold violent and repeat offenders accountable, while connecting people in crisis with the treatment and supports they need to change their trajectory.

That means:

• Stricter bail standards for repeat and violent offenders.
• Greater transparency around plea deals and sentencing decisions.
• Stronger collaboration between police, prosecutors, and the courts.
• And a coordinated, city-wide response that balances accountability with compassion.

Downtown is the heart of Edmonton. It should be a place where people feel confident walking to work, visiting restaurants, and attending events — not a place where they fear for their safety.

I stand with the community, Chief Driechel, and all Edmontonians who are calling for a justice system that finally works. We can’t keep accepting a system that fails everyone — police, victims, and offenders alike.

It’s time to end Edmonton’s status as Alberta’s jail capital and replace it with a justice system that delivers real results.

— Tim Cartmell
Candidate for Mayor of Edmonton
www.timcartmell.ca/edmontons_holistic_safety_plan