Alberta Press Conference -- Courtesy of Alberta Government

By Connor Gunn

Alberta bans ‘carding’ for interactions between police and public

Nov 19, 2020 | 1:36 PM

EDMONTON, AB– Alberta’s government is banning carding immediately, which sees police officers randomly and arbitrarily stopping members of the public and asking for personal information.

The practice of carding happens in police and RCMP across the province and has been seen as targetting members of racialized and marginalized communities.

Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu made the announcement and believes it was time to take action.

“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.”

“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.”

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The new rules are to ensure police officers respect the rights of citizens when requesting personal information.

Siksika Nation Chief Ouray Crowfoot is thankful for the change.

“It is great to see the Alberta government’s commitment to true reconciliation. 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.”

The province-wide ban will ensure consistency and equality, according to the Alberta government.

Chief Dale McFee, president of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, hopes to have all members on board says banning carding allows for equality in police and RCMP.

“The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police is in full support of the province’s guidelines on street checks. 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,” adds McFee.

According to a release from the provincial government, street check rules apply when “officers can collect personal information from members of the public only in specific circumstances, such as asking about a crime that has taken place.”

Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh spoke on the change and says that the banning of carding in the RCMP and the Police is what needed to happen.

Mehdizadeh says as an immigrant himself, carding is disrespectful and he’s happy to see the practice being banned.

Police will have to train officers to comply with the new rules and provide education to ensure that citizens know their rights when interacting with the police.

More details on these changes are here.

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