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Calgary Public Safety and Community Response Task Force

Members will address social issues in Calgary through a coordinated response between the province, city and local partners.

Overview

The Calgary Public Safety and Community Response Task Force was created in December 2022 to address the issues of addiction, homelessness and public safety, and build on the province’s recovery-oriented system of addiction and mental health care.

The task force will implement a series of initiatives in Calgary towards addiction treatment, homelessness, shelter spaces and other housing supports. Funding for these initiatives is provided as part of government's $187 million commitment to address addiction and homelessness in Alberta's urban centres.

These actions will help provide more life-saving services to Calgarians while enhancing public safety within the city.

Timeline

  • Open

    Task force work is ongoing.

Who is listening

Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction

Mandate

The Calgary Public Safety and Community Response Task Force will implement initiatives to:

  • further increase addiction treatment capacity in Calgary

  • provide addiction and mental health treatment programs in correctional centres

  • create a hybrid health and police hub

  • expand medical detox services

  • build harm reduction and recovery outreach teams

  • expand access to emergency shelter space

  • improve access to affordable housing options that support recovery

The task force is expected to operate until March 2023 and may be extended, if required. 

Task force members

  • Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction (chair)
  • Jason Nixon, Seniors, Community and Social Services
  • Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
  • Ruben Breaker, Councillor Asinaipoka, Siksika Nation
  • Jodi Twoguns, executive director of social development, Tsuu T’ina Nation
  • Sonya Sharp, Ward 1 councillor, City of Calgary
  • Andre Chabot, Ward 10 councillor, City of Calgary
  • David Duckworth, city manager, City of Calgary
  • Steve Dongworth, fire chief, Calgary Fire Rescue Service
  • Mark Neufeld, chief of police, Calgary Police Service
  • Steve Clelland, senior program officer, Provincial Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services
  • Tony Pasich, associate executive director, EMS Operations South and Central Zones, Alberta Health Services

Get help

  • Albertans experiencing addiction or mental health challenges can contact 211 for information on services in their community.

  • Albertans struggling with opioid addiction can contact the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program by calling 1-844-383-7688, 7 days a week, from 8 am to 8 pm daily. The program provides same-day access to addiction medicine specialists. There is no wait-list.

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