@Martyupnorth I was part of that group until I saw how the truckers were treated. It scared me how easy it was for the authorities to get one group to turn on another.
Free Speech is a foundational Alberta value. We donโt believe in policing unpopular or religious-based statements even if they are controversial. Thatโs a slippery slope other countries have fallen into and we canโt go down that road.
Our Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, will be writing to our provincial and municipal policing providers to ensure they understand Albertansโ policing priorities should focus on violent crimes, illegal drugs, theft and vandalismโฆnot peopleโs free speech.
It gets worse.
Without approval from Parliament, the @edmontonpolice have invented UK-style โnon-criminal hate incidentsโ that they intend to police. Examples include โoffensive jokesโ.
The Edmonton Police themselves are an offensive joke.
In case you missed it, this is what the Edmonton Police posted, and then deleted.
The fact that an organization like the Edmonton Police published this and included a link encouraging people to report mean tweets, and then deleted it is deeply concerning.
It demonstrates a troubling misunderstanding of the law by the very institution entrusted with enforcing it. Police are expected to understand the legal distinction between offensive or unpopular expression and criminal conduct before asking the public to report it.
Police resources should be focused on investigating real crime and protecting public safety, not inventing new standard or creating confusion about the line between offensive speech and criminal conduct.
In a free and democratic society, offensive or unpopular opinions should not become the subject of police reports simply because someone disagrees with them. We must educate people, elevate the conversation, and encourage respectful dialogue, but that responsibility begins with those in positions of leadership and public trust.
If we want a better conversation, it must start at the top, not the bottom.
@Martyupnorth I had a 1971 Z50A, in the early 70s. I spent hours on it. A few drunk uncles would take it for a spin, full throttle, in first gear. I loved that mini bike. I wish I still had it.