Justice minister makes pitch for pepper spray, accepts LPS action plan

By Herald on July 21, 2021.

Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu speaks to reporters Wednesday at the courthouse in Lethbridge. Herald photo by Ian Martens

Al Beeber – Lethbridge Herald

Alberta’s justice minister wants the federal government to let citizens carry pepper spray to protect themselves from crime.

Kaycee Madu told media assembled on the steps of the Lethbridge Courthouse Wednesday he has sent a letter to the federal government asking Ottawa to allow people to carry capsaicin spray.

He also said he had accepted the Lethbridge City Police revised plan of action submitted by LPS chief Shahin Mehdizadeh to address Madu’s concerns over various issues with the local force.

“They have submitted a revised action plan. I have reviewed that action plan. It is acceptable to me, I have approved it and now it’s time for them to get back to work. Given the seriousness of the issues I’ve been raising, they have done everything they can to resolve the problems down here.

“So far I am convinced that they have taken the right steps,” Madu said. 

In his letter to Ottawa about pepper spray, Madu wrote “it is sadly ironic that a vulnerable person carrying pepper spray for self-defence could quite possibly receive a longer sentence than her attacker.”

He said Wednesday “I think it’s important to emphasize at the end of the day, let’s not forget this is about ordinary Albertans, the victims of crime. And empowering them to better protect themselves is the right thing to do.

“I’m calling on Justin Trudeau and my federal counterparts to do everything they can to pass this essential amendment I’ve asked for. It’s good to prevent crimes in our communities, it’s good for the victim and it empowers victims and sends a powerful message to those who will seek to perpetrate crimes there will be consequences,” he added.

He said the plan will work as intended.

“There is never anything wrong with empowering your citizens to protect themselves from those who seek to harm them. Pepper sprays are only to be used against those bad actors who seek to harm our citizens.”

He said the Alberta government wants to protect Albertans from crime.

“If they (the federal government) are serious about protecting ordinary Albertans in Alberta’s communities, rural and urban, they’ve got a responsibility and I would dare to add a legal and moral responsibility to pass this legislation, he said.

When asked if criminals who carry bear spray could somehow claim they used it in self defence, Madu said “when the bad actor, the criminal, was out there and used the pepper spray against a victim, that should heighten the sentence. That should heighten their punishment. It’s not something they should get away with.

“And I am confident that the justice system, the prosecutors, that all of that will come together to determine the appropriate level of sentences and punishment for these offenders. In a nutshell, I’m not really worried about it.”

The minister is also conducting town hall meetings in various locations to address rural crime. He was in Claresholm Wednesday night and is speaking today in Cardston at 9 a.m. in the Tanner Centennial Seniors Centre.

“I had one last night and it reinforces for me the seriousness of rural crime. It was something everyone talked about and the reason why it is important that Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberals work with us to address the consistent perennial problem of rural crime. What I’m hoping to achieve is to confirm that this continues to be a major problem for our rural citizens and work with them to find lasting solutions. I want to solve and end this plague of rural crime.

He said he hears and agrees with crime victims and “they should know that I am committed to do everything I can to solve this problem.”

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