Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Chief Dale McFee has sparked controversy after advocating for immigration restrictions in a current podcast. Through the December 2 episode of the Quiet Skilled podcast, hosted by EPS officer Nathan Romas, McFee claimed that rising immigration poses dangers, stating, “When yet another is added, there’s extra threat… [Immigration] simply can’t be a free-for-all.”
McFee’s remarks drew sharp criticism from neighborhood leaders. Omar Yaqub, govt director of Islamic Household and Social Providers, countered that Canada’s immigration system is already rigorous, requiring in depth documentation and vetting. “The method can take years, and information reveals immigrants are much less prone to have interaction in legal exercise,” Yaqub mentioned. He urged establishments just like the EPS to higher adapt to Alberta’s rising variety, including, “This is a chance for EPS to mirror on the way it can higher serve a various Edmonton.”
Different critics echoed these sentiments. Fatema Abdalla of the Nationwide Council of Canadian Muslims known as McFee’s feedback “divisive and ahistorical,” whereas neighborhood organizer Fatima Saleh dismissed his claims of “unhealthy actors” amongst immigrant communities as ways to deflect accountability.
The Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Police Fee, and Alberta’s Public Security Ministry didn’t reply to inquiries about McFee’s remarks.
McFee’s feedback on immigration emerged in a broader dialogue about EPS actions throughout the Might 11, 2024, police clearance of an anti-genocide encampment on the College of Alberta. Dubbed the Individuals’s College for Palestine, the encampment lasted two days earlier than a 4 a.m. raid by EPS officers.
Justice Adele Kent, in a third-party investigation, reported that protesters got solely 5 minutes to vacate after an air horn announcement. Regardless of this, McFee praised his officers’ dealing with of the scenario, stating it was resolved “shortly” and with “minimal affect.”
Nonetheless, critics questioned the EPS’s narrative. Freedom of data requests revealed that college safety had described the encampment as “extraordinarily peaceable.” Protesters accused officers of extreme power, with video proof reportedly exhibiting police assaulting demonstrators. In the meantime, McFee expressed frustration over the dismissal of assault prices in opposition to protesters.
McFee additionally defended EPS insurance policies on homelessness and drug enforcement throughout the podcast, disputing information exhibiting a 47% improve in homelessness in Edmonton in 2024. Advocates have linked town’s no-tolerance tent insurance policies to an increase in frostbite accidents and amputations amongst unhoused people. McFee deflected blame, arguing the difficulty had been “politically motivated.”
Tensions with Edmonton metropolis councillor Michael Janz additionally surfaced throughout the podcast. McFee criticized Janz for advocating political mobilization and accused him of selling divisive insurance policies, together with decriminalization and eradicating armed officers from colleges. Janz denied McFee’s claims, describing an earlier misunderstanding after they met at metropolis corridor.
Chief McFee is about to retire on February 21, 2025, however his current feedback have intensified debates about policing, immigration, and social coverage in Edmonton. Critics hope new management will steer the EPS towards larger accountability and inclusivity.
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