The Alberta government's new task force to correct social disorder will now target Calgary.The provincial government announced Friday the Calgary Public Safety and Community Response Task Force."Our government takes the addiction crisis and interrelated concerns very seriously," Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Schulz said."We've heard loud and clear from municipalities across Alberta about the need for a collaborative approach and we are committing to that, including right here in Calgary."Alberta's government announced Tuesday the Edmonton Public Safety and Community Response Task Force which will address social issues through an immediately coordinated response between the province, city, and local partners. The same plan will now be used in Calgary.Addiction, homelessness and public safety issues have affected every community in Alberta, with Edmonton being especially hard hit as residents outcried on social media for leaders to address these issues.The task force will build on the province’s recovery-oriented system of addiction and mental health care. The task force will implement a series of initiatives in the Edmonton metropolitan region as part of a $187-million commitment to address addiction and homelessness in Alberta’s urban centres.The initiatives the task force is responsible for implementing will help provide more life-saving services to people in Calgary struggling with addiction and homelessness, while enhancing public safety within the city.This work will include:• further increasing addiction treatment capacity in Calgary• providing addiction and mental health treatment programs in correctional centres• creating a hybrid health and police hub• expanding medical detox services• building harm reduction and recovery outreach teams• expanding access to emergency shelter spaceThe task force will implement a series of initiatives in Calgary as part of a $187-million commitment to address addiction and homelessness in Alberta’s urban centres. In Calgary, nearly $58 million of the funding will go directly toward addressing addiction and homelessness in Alberta’s largest city.This is in addition to more than $73 million in funding for Calgary shelter spaces and other housing supports this year, and the nearly $10 million already allocated to further increase access to addiction treatment beyond the 8,000 spaces initiative.“We are taking a fair, firm, and compassionate approach to addressing addiction, homelessness and public safety issues in Calgary," Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Nicholas Milliken said."By bringing community partners together, we will be able to implement a series of recovery-oriented initiatives that will support Calgarians struggling with these complex social issues.”Task force members in Calgary are:Nicholas Milliken, minister of Mental Health and AddictionJeremy Nixon, minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services (chair)Mike Ellis, minister of Public Safety and Emergency ServicesRebecca Schulz, minister of Municipal AffairsReuben Breaker, councillor Asinaipoka, Siksika NationJodi Two Guns, executive director of social development, Tsuu T’ina NationSonya Sharp, Ward 1 councillor, City of CalgaryAndre Chabot, Ward 10 councillor, City of CalgaryDavid Duckworth, city manager, City of CalgarySteve Dongworth, fire chief, Calgary Fire DepartmentMark Neufeld, chief constable, Calgary Police ServiceKerry Bales, senior program officer, Provincial Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health ServicesTony Pasich, associate executive director, EMS Operations, Alberta Health Services South ZonePatricia Jones, chief executive officer, Calgary Homeless Foundation“By working with our partners in Calgary, I am confident we will see positive impacts on the entire community," Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jeremy Nixon said."The collaborative steps we are taking through this task force will help many individuals recover from addiction, find housing support and get their lives back.”The Calgary Public Safety and Community Response Task Force will meet for the first time on December 16.
