Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Slams Edmonton Police Hate Video

The Edmonton Police Service posted an 18‑second video urging residents to report hate‑motivated incidents, displaying online comments that included calls for deportation and threats. The video sparked controversy over where the line is drawn between criminal hate speech and protected expression.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis responded on social media, asserting that police resources should focus on violent crime, theft, illegal drugs and vandalism rather than policing speech. Both emphasized that free speech is a foundational value in Alberta and said the province would write to police agencies to reaffirm this priority. Community advocate Varinder Bhullar noted a recent rise in racist remarks online, while the police service reported an increase in violent hate‑motivated crimes last year, highlighting the tension between addressing hate and preserving free expression.