Cold Lake, Alta., cracking down on aggressive panhandling, encampments

A northeastern Alberta city is cracking down on aggressive panhandling, illegal encampments and anti-social behaviour.

Cold Lake, a city of roughly 16,000 people 295 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, said in a news release this month that the number of transient and unhoused people has recently increased alongside "the brazenness and severity of the vagrancy."

The city says it is working with the RCMP to ramp up ticketing and charges focusing on repeat offenders.

Craig Copeland, the mayor of Cold Lake, said the current situation is costing businesses and taxpayers, and that some residents don't feel safe.

"We're going to charge these individuals and if it means the jails are full, we're fully supportive of that — we have to do something," Copeland said in a recent interview.

"Just releasing them in the court system is not working. We need to start to put some accountability into people's behaviour."

Mayor Craig Copeland said his city had to act to stop the victimization of residents and businesses. (City of Cold Lake)

At the local Burger King, owner Bob Buckle says he now closes in-restaurant services two hours earlier than the drive-thru to help keep staff safe.

He said three years ago an intoxicated man randomly smashed the drive-thru monitors with a piece of rebar, causing $35,000 in damage.

In another incident, wires were cut inside a control tower, putting out lights at major intersections. The city has also received reports of employees being beaten up while intervening in a theft.

Supportive of the new measures, Buckle said a concerted effort is needed from judges, prosecutors and police.

"I think that's the only answer to get a handle on it," he said.

The city said many of the offenders have been in and out of court facing little to no consequences and it will "seek to have individuals face jail time in penitentiaries under provisions that levy penalties for unpaid fines."

In a statement, the province said this year's budget invested $139.2 million to increase prosecutor's capacity so all viable criminal cases can be prosecuted. More prosecutors have been assigned to rural regions.

"For far too long the criminal justice system has been struggling due to the ineffective federal 'catch and release' bail legislation set in Bill C-75" wrote Chinenye Anokwuru, press secretary for Justice Alberta Minister Mickey Amery.

"While we wait for Ottawa to do the right thing regarding Bill C-75, Alberta's government is taking action now to hold repeat violent offenders accountable."

23 encampment fires last year

The Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce said multiple businesses have been broken into for cash despite security enhancements such as extra lighting or private security.

According to Copeland, the city recently removed benches where unhoused people gathered as well as 1,700 kilograms of garbage after taking down five encampments behind commercial businesses. Firefighters fought 23 fires last year related to the camps.

Copeland said the city went to great efforts and expense to open the Cold Lake John Howard Society four years ago. The shelter sleeps 20 and provides meals and services in multiple areas including legal matters, mental health and addiction, mentorship and housing.

Copeland said city council would welcome a provincial treatment facility in the northeast part of the province, as well as a detox centre.

The Cold Lake John Howard Society provides overnight beds, meals and services for housing, court, mental health and addiction. (Submitted by Candice Sutterfield)

The province has announced the locations of all but one recovery community as a means to tackle Alberta's drug epidemic, but none so far are in the Cold Lake area.

Homeless count disputed

The city says the unhoused population has increased in two years from 10 local people to 195, including many arriving from surrounding areas.

The city's number comes from monthly reports produced by John Howard where people seeking services are registered.

John Howard says they have served 195 people overall and about a quarter reside in Cold Lake at any given time.

Candice Sutterfield, board chair of John Howard Society, said people come and go from other places including Saskatchewan. In April, John Howard served 48 clients.

Candice Sutterfield said the Cold Lake area needs a detox centre. (Submitted by John Howard)

Sutterfield said she has mixed emotions about the city's new enforcement measures because it runs counter to their work supporting clients in court or securing income support.

John Howard itself has had to close its doors for several days at a time due to the aggressive behaviour of some clients, she said.

Business owner Bob Buckle supports the city's news measures. (Cold Lake Chamber of Commerce)

The problem, said Sutterfield, is that the drugs are getting stronger, with clients predominantly using meth, leading to an increase in psychosis and violent behaviour.

She said the city has been generous and what her community needs is medical transport for everyone in need and a local detox centre.

"You have a very, very small window before the addictions start taking over again," Sutterfield said.

The province said the nearest detox centre is in Bonnyville, 53 kilometres southwest.