Justice Minister Kaycee Madu announced the new regulations on "carding" on Thursday in Edmonton, alongside representatives from several provincial minority organizations and police agencies (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

Ban on carding

Alberta bans practice of police “carding”, sets new rules around street checks

Nov 19, 2020 | 1:18 PM

The Alberta government has put a province-wide ban on the police practice of “carding”, while also establishing new rules around street checks

The changes to provincial policing standards now prohibits police in Alberta from randomly and arbitrarily stopping members of the public through the commonly known practice of carding — where officers ask for personal information without any evidence that they have been involved in, or have knowledge of, an offence.

“Members of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities in Alberta expressed concerns about carding and street checks, and we have a responsibility to act on those legitimate concerns,” said Justice Minister Kaycee Madu. “The Government of Alberta supports the dedication and courage of the province’s police officers, and this historic change ensures they will continue to serve and protect our communities with the full trust and confidence of all Albertans.”

The province adds in a release issued Thursday that new provisions have also been established to provide clear rules for other common encounters, or street checks, to ensure police officers respect the rights of citizens when requesting personal information.

The new rules on street checks were developed in consultation with the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, according to the province. The government adds it recognizes the value of street checks as an investigative tool for police officers to build relationships in the community while investigating crime.

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The new rules now make it so that officers can collect personal information from members of the public only in specific circumstances, such as asking about a crime that has taken place. The province adds these interactions will be voluntary, and officers will need to make it clear at the outset of an interaction that citizens have no obligation to provide their personal information or answer questions.

“It is great to see the Alberta government’s commitment to true reconciliation,” said Chief Ouray Crowfoot of the Siksika Nation.

“Banning carding and establishing clear rules for common interactions between police and the public will ensure the rights of all Albertans are protected. We’ve been asking for these changes for years and want to acknowledge this government’s leadership by standing with us against racism.”

“Carding is discriminatory and it violates people’s charter rights, human rights and privacy rights,” adds Ahmer Nadeem Memon, the President of the Pakistan Canada Association in Calgary. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Alberta for taking an excellent first step towards banning the horrible practice of carding and thus strengthening trust between racialized communities and law enforcement.”

The new measures around street checks also have the support of Dale McFee, the President of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police.

“While the practice of carding has no place in policing, street checks are a valuable investigative tool that allow police officers to develop street-level intelligence while balancing the rights of all Albertans. It is important that every member of the public is treated with respect and in a fair manner, and we believe that setting these standards across the province will achieve this while strengthening relationships with the communities we serve.”

Madu was direct in saying the provincial government was not being swayed by what Madu referred to as, the “radical left ideology, being pushed by radical activists”.

The minister was referencing calls for social justice and police reform following the police-involved deaths of people such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the United States earlier this year. Those calls, through many demonstrations held globally, have been for a reforming of the policing and justice system.

Madu pointed to the notion of “defunding the police”

“I want to be clear: like an overwhelming majority of Albertans, Alberta’s government does not believe that the answer we are looking for comes from defunding the police,” said Madu.

“But we (the government) also promised to listen to the legitimate concerns that exist within our communities. Concerns like those around carding and street checks.”

Madu says the measures announced Thursday address those concerns, without unfairly targeting law enforcement officers. He adds that through consultation with minority groups, it became clear there was a feeling of bias, which needed to be addressed.

“It creates distrust and alienation between law enforcement and the communities they serve. It creates a dynamic of opposition, instead of partnership and cooperation. We cannot allow this to continue.”

Police services across Alberta will now be required to train officers to comply with the new rules, and offer public education to ensure that citizens know their rights when interacting with the police. The public awareness requirements for police services include holding information sessions with community groups, making information available on their websites and developing communications strategies to inform the public.

The new rules are effective immediately and the government will formalize them by including them in amendments to the Police Service Regulation in 2021.