CALGARY, AB (September 26, 2011): Today, the Wildrose Caucus released its justice, policing and human rights policy, aiming to restore the principle of justice in our justice system, improve safety and security for society’s most vulnerable, and enhance the protections of our most fundamental individual freedoms.

“At our very core, the Wildrose believes one of government’s principal roles is to ensure the safety of its citizens and the protection of their individual rights. This policy reflects that core belief,” Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said. “Our plan contains sensible measures to respect victims’ rights, improve safety on our streets and ensure that our most basic personal rights and freedoms receive the legal protection they deserve."

The full policy may be found here.

Highlights of the policy include:

• Re-introducing work programs for provincial offenders
• Improving the integration of RCMP, municipal police, provincial sheriffs, and first responders and guaranteeing accountability to Albertans
• Implementing several critical 2007 Safe Communities Task Force recommendations like public reporting of sentencing records, and increased monitoring of parolees
• Reviewing the ratio of probation and correction officers to offenders to ensure the safety of both parties
• Expanding electronic monitoring of dangerous offenders
• Creating a Victims’ Bill of Rights to ensure victims are given the resources, protections and compensation they need
• Establish a new Human Rights Division of the Provincial Court of Alberta to adjudicate human rights complaints and to ensure the constitutional and procedural rights of both complainants and defendants are protected
• Legislate clear penalties for human rights violations
• Provide constitutionally trained Human Rights Advocates to represent individuals with legitimate human rights complaints

Wildrose Solicitor General and Public Security Critic Heather Forsyth, who once chaired the government’s Crime Reduction and Safe Communities Task Force, said the policy builds on her years of work to ensure all Albertans have confidence in their justice system.

“The current government continues to drag its heels on bringing in much-needed reforms,” Forsyth said. “Our caucus has done significant consultation with law enforcement and members of the legal community to come up with this policy, which truly reflects what our system needs. I want to thank each and every one we met with for their input and their desire to improve safety and justice for all Albertans.”

Wildrose Justice Critic Rob Anderson said the proposed changes to the human rights adjudication process strike the right balance between protecting the human rights of minority groups with the rights of individuals to a fair and impartial hearing before a qualified judge.

“The days of a kangaroo court adjudicating human rights complaints will end under a Wildrose government,” Anderson said. “We will ensure the human rights of Albertans are protected in a court of law under the direction of competent and impartial judges but we will also ensure that visible minorities, people with disabilities, those with language barriers and other vulnerable Albertans are able to have their legitimate human rights complaints heard regardless of their background or bank account.”

The Wildrose Caucus stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy.

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For further information or to arrange an interview, media are invited to contact:

Brock Harrison

Director of Communications, Wildrose Caucus

Ph: 780-399-2890