Calgary’s police chief is blasting Alberta’s transportation minister, saying a Monday announcement on changes to photo radar rules in the province was both “unprofessional” and dangerous.
“We will see an increase in serious injury and fatal collisions on our roadways,” Mark Neufeld told reporters in Calgary.
The politicians did not listen, he insisted, to either the Calgary Police Service or the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (which he is also currently the president of.)
Neufeld said both organizations oppose the provincial government’s new restrictions, which aim to reduce traffic enforcement cameras by about 70 per cent.
RELATED: Alberta ending photo radar on numbered provincial highways, ‘speed-on-green’ ticketing
“In a letter, we were advised that these decisions will enhance traffic safety. We don’t believe that to be true,” Neufeld said.
The chief’s comments came hours after transportation minister Devin Dreeshen — dressed in a “no cash cow” apron and pin — proudly proclaimed the eventual death of around 1,500 photo radar locations.
The minister claims all but about 650 sites are intended to generate revenue for municipalities, rather than improve roadway safety.
“We turn up the heat, we fire up the grill, and say goodbye to the photo radar cash cow,” Dreeshen declared at a north Edmonton BBQ restaurant before serving smoked meat to a few journalists.
“Having a provincial cabinet minister speak in this manner is unprofessional,” Neufeld said, adding that Dreeshen’s comments could erode trust in the police and their enforcement efforts.
“While some might have thought that was funny, we would encourage the minister to consider those citizens who have been injured or killed on Alberta roadways and their loved ones.”
Police are not the only ones concerned about the changes that also ban speed-on-green intersection cameras, but do not affect red light enforcement.
Local politicians joined in the criticism Tuesday, with several members of Edmonton City Council expressing concerns about both the policy and the process.
“It is definitely going to have an impact on safety, particularly in our neighbourhoods where we get a lot of complaints about speeding,” Mayor Amarjeet Sohi told reporters.
“I’ve tried to get a meeting with the minister for about a couple of years, without any luck,” said Ward Sspomitapi Coun. Jo-Anne Wright.
But at the legislature, surrounded by reporters and TV cameras, Dreeshen refused to back down on the changes and offered no apology for his announcement.
“We did strike the right tone to make sure people knew about it, they know that photo radar changes are coming to the province,” he said.
“Albertans can be confident that going forward if they get a photo radar ticket in a playground zone or a construction zone, they know they should not have been speeding there.”
Starting Apr. 1, photo radar will be banned on numbered provincial highways and will be restricted to schools, playgrounds, and construction zones, unless a city or town proves a location is needed for safety.