Alberta's two major cities are getting more cops to help enforce social disorder, the Western Standard has learned.. Smith on more copsAlberta Premier Danielle Smith .The UCP is expected to announce Tuesday they will be providing funding for more police officers in Calgary and Edmonton, the Western Standard has learned..While details are scarce at the moment, it is expected the funding will provide for dozens more officers in each city..A press conference will be called for Tuesday to fully lay out the plans..Transit systems in both cities have seen an increase in social disorder since the end of the pandemic.."We began with pilot project of having 12 sheriffs in Calgary and Edmonton and it's not enough," Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told the Western Standard on Monday.."We'll be having another announcement tomorrow where we'll have a little bit more about additional things that we'll be doing, so just stay tuned for that.".Smith met with the City of Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi recently to discuss the social disorder which is plaguing downtown..Smith was joined by Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jeremy Nixon; and Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Nicholas Milliken for her meeting with Sohi..In the meeting with the mayor, Smith discussed downtown revitalization, homeless shelter capacity, creating safer communities, as well as ensuring community supports are offered with a focus on and partnership with indigenous communities and recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC)..Smith brought forward the need to collaborate on large capital projects and raised concerns about high property taxes and their negative effects on small businesses and jobs, particularly downtown..Sohi asked for a commitment to collaborate with the province in addressing the social issues of downtown and Smith agreed that the province will continue to be an active and willing partner in solving these issues, including through the work of the Edmonton Task Force.
