Send Council a Message: Support the Community Safety Investment Framework


Black Lives Matter march in Calgary, June 3, 2020. Photo credit: Jon Yee

Get the Facts to Invest in Our Communities 

This week Calgary City Council will vote on whether to develop a Community Safety Investment Framework. The framework is a plan to address gaps in: 

  • crisis services for individuals, their families and support networks 
  • outreach services 
  • emergency response system in Calgary, including any gaps in racially and culturally appropriate services. 

The Defund2Fund Coalition represents approximately 15 groups and nearly 2,000 Calgarians who support a reduction of the CPS budget, to be reallocated throughout our communities. We have published detailed research on why we must defund the police and fund our communities now. The Community Safety Investment Framework is a modest first step to rebuild trust and to begin to rectify systemic barriers in the lives of Black, Indigenous, other racialized communities and 2SLGBTQ+ people.

The Police and Council Must Keep Their Promises

During the budget discussions later in November, Council will consider whether to fund the framework with a 5% reallocation  of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) budget over the next two years. In September 2020, both Mayor Nenshi and the CPS have committed to reallocation of the CPS budget to better fund communities this year:

  • Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi agreed that the CPS budget should be reduced and suggested that these funds could be reallocated to mental health response and fighting institutional racism. 
  • The CPS confirmed that it supports "reallocating resources from [its] existing budget to work with community partners to develop alternative ways to respond to Calgarians in crisis". 

We call on Calgary City Council to pass this motion to enable City staff to develop a Community Safety Investment Framework. This information is necessary to inform CPS’ commitment to reallocation of a portion of its budget to help Calgarians in crisis during the November budget discussions. The framework will identify potential ways to address gaps in its services for vulnerable Calgarians. 

We need your help!

1. Email City Council and ask them to vote for the Community Safety Investment Framework

Tell your Councillor that you support the Community Safety Investment Framework, and that you want them to vote YES!

A personal approach works best, but don’t forget to tell them that:

  • The Community Safety Investment Framework is necessary 
  • This framework will support Calgarians in crisis during November budget discussions
  • The framework will inform the Calgary Police Service’s stated commitment to reallocation of a portion of its budget to help Calgarians in crisis, during the November budget discussions. 
  • The framework will identify potential ways to address gaps in its services for Calgarians in crisis, including any gaps in racially and culturally appropriate services.

Be sure to add something personal, and show them your support!

 

2. Call City Council and ask them to vote yes to the Community Safety Investment Framework

Most councillors are currently working from home but you can still leave them a voicemail by calling 403-268-2430. If you’re not sure what to say, include the ideas above!

3. Help us reach 2,000 signatures on our petition

Share this message with at least three friends and family members and ask them to sign our petition 

Thank you for joining us in taking action!