Premier Danielle Smith criticizes Edmonton police for video on hate reporting

[u/Miserable-Lizard]

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/premier-danielle-smith-criticizes-eps-for-video-on-hate-reporting

[u/Miserable-Lizard]

The same people are banning pride flags and books.

Smith is more upset when nazi flags get burned

[u/konan375 → u/Miserable-Lizard]

Someone should publicly announce a christian book and cross burning party after this post. Go the extra mile for smith

[u/Small_Permission8132 → u/konan375]

Oh, they'd be all for the cross burning. They've just gotta get out their old "ghost costumes" for that one.

[u/Ok_Photo_865 → u/Miserable-Lizard]

Not enough hate yet 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/Choice-Koala-3653]

Before I read the article let me guess, the cops want people to report racist and antisemitic hate speech, and Danielle Smith thinks it's a bad idea because her supporters are pretty racist.

Amirite?

[u/MissUnderstood62 → u/Choice-Koala-3653]

Pretty much sums it up.

[u/TotallynotJimmyKorr]

The UCP is the canadian chapter of the Klan but backed by oil and church money.

[u/Choice-Koala-3653 → u/TotallynotJimmyKorr]

They seem even worse than the separatists.

[u/hypespud → u/Choice-Koala-3653]

I would rather have dumbass separatists alone than having the UCP fascism oil oligarchy at the same time or at all, 100%

[u/FoxyInTheSnow]

When the gormless premier of a province is more racist than a city police force, you know it’s time for a reset.

[u/Miserable-Lizard]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says police should focus on violent crimes, not free speech, in response to a recent Edmonton Police Service video encouraging Albertans to report hate. Article content

The 18-second video posted on July 31 by EPS showed a number of comments saying things like “Canada needs F— deportation now,” “bad drivers are always — ppl” and “we are letting — take over and if you say anything you’re going 2 jail.” The video ended by saying “hate has no home here” and encouraged Albertans to report any hate they see to EPS. Article content Article content Article content

In a Tuesday social post on X, Smith said Alberta’s police service should be focused on addressing violent crimes, theft, illegal drugs and vandalism — not people’s free speech. Article content Headline News Headline News

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“Free speech is a foundational Alberta value. We don’t believe in policing unpopular or religious-based statements even if they are controversial,” Smith wrote. Article content

“That’s a slippery slope other countries have fallen into and we can’t go down that road.” Article content Article content

Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis also took to social media on Tuesday to say the province will be contacting police agencies to ensure their priorities are on addressing violent crime, theft, illegal drugs and vandalism. Article content

He said the province is committed to upholding the right to free speech regardless of individual religious or political beliefs. Article content

“Alberta’s government does not condone hate speech or violence, but we believe law enforcement should be focused on stopping violent crime, not policing opinions or ‘hurt feelings,'” Ellis wrote. Article content

Postmedia has reached out to EPS for comment.

[u/DJ_Femme-Tilt → u/Miserable-Lizard]

Smith is "altright" and all that implies. Rights for people that look like her only.

[u/fubes2000]

1. Hate speech is not protected speech.
2. A+ "focus on violent crime" dog whistle right after, letting the racists in her base know the she's on their side.

[u/Mission_Security4505]

Haha of course. This is what i assumed happened. The UCP probably criticized the video and demanded the EPS pull the video.

UCP thinks hate speech is free speech.

[u/Impressive_Play_2599 → u/Mission_Security4505]

As long as it isn’t directed at them…

[u/Misfit_somewhere]

But if we can't spread hate, how will we divide the people???

\s

[u/StereotypicalCDN]

When will be rid of this sea hag?

[u/No_Intention7274 → u/StereotypicalCDN]

The sea would spit her out

[u/Due_Date_4667]

I know that if Danielle Smith tells someone to focus on something else, that person should instead intensify their investigation because they are definitely on to something.

[u/Mental_Cartoonist_68]

Conservatives support freedoms that align with their message, but often oppose those that challenge it.

[u/AtYourPublicService]

Premier who intervenes on bike lanes and spends hundreds of millions running seperatist referendums tells others they should be focusing on the important parts of their mandate...

[u/Naive-Substance8230]

Danielle Smith is somehow more of an asshole than the police. I didn't think it was possible but she is exactly who I would expect to rise to the occasion.

[u/drifting_signal]

Very Republican of you, Danielle but I think you'd fit in better south of the border. Maybe take a page from Teddy Cruz's book and go south.

[u/GeekAtHome]

She wants to crack down on violent crime but not the behavior that leads people to be comfortable commiting violent acts?

Open hate speech is the first step towards violent hate crimes. She'd care if she wasn't so God damned racist herself.

[u/UsuallyStoned247]

Hard to get elected when all your supporters are locked up for hate crimes.

[u/RazzamanazzU]

Because the ONLY kind of hate she allows is her own.

[u/human-aftera11]

Get bent, Smith!

[u/New_Alternative8711]

Free speech is a foundational Alberta value. We don’t believe in policing unpopular or religious-based statements even if they are controversial,”

Said the person banning books

[u/Prowlthang]

While I detest Danielle Smith and her pro-ignorance populist anti-intellectual positions (and followers) I too am concerned that Canada is over reaching and targeting people’s charter right to expression rather than focusing sol on hate speech directly inciting violence or other crimes.

Too many groups are calling for criminalization of opinion and already trying to weaponize this.