NDP proposes three-part plan to stop Chinatown detainee drop-offs
After Edmonton police acknowledged years of releasing inmates on Chinatown streets, opposition MLAs called the practice a crisis and outlined a provincial response.
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Surveillance video showing Edmonton police and Alberta corrections officers dropping off recently released people on Chinatown streets in recent weeks has prompted the NDP to propose a three-part provincial plan to stop the practice.
A white Correctional Services van dropped people in front of Kim Fat Market in Chinatown late Friday evening, footage shows. This follows Edmonton Police Chief Warren Driechel's acknowledgment Wednesday that officers have been dropping detainees directly onto Chinatown streets, a practice the business community and residents say has been occurring for years.
Wai-Ling Lennon, a community member, said the drop-offs have affected the neighbourhood's sense of safety. "This is the part of Edmonton that reminds me of my heritage. This is the place where I feel I belong," Lennon said. "I have also heard the children, adults, seniors who live outside Chinatown, they do not feel safe to come to Chinatown anymore." Seniors have told Lennon they are afraid to go out after dark.
Karl Miu of the Edmonton Chinatown and Area Business Association said drop-offs are continuing and it's time for the provincial government to take action.
At a news conference Thursday, Edmonton-South West MLA Nathan Ip said: "We've been left dealing with the consequences of a system that is failing both the community and the businesses and the people being released." David Shepherd, NDP MLA and public safety critic, added: "Now we see this video evidence, we see what is happening in our community, we see how this has expanded and multiplied and it has reached the level that this is a crisis that needs to be addressed."
Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, framed the issue as a cycle of failure: "When people leave custody with no way to get home, and no connection to housing, health care, or community supports, they're being set up to fail. They're more likely to cycle through homelessness, shelters, emergency rooms, police interactions, and back into the justice system instead of getting the help they need to rebuild their lives."
As HighOnCity reported in September and October, this problem has persisted for years. The NDP's plan targets provincial policy on releases and support systems for people exiting custody.
What are the specific three parts of the NDP's proposed plan?
Will the provincial government respond, and if so, what is their timeline?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What did Edmonton police acknowledge about Chinatown?
Edmonton Police Chief Warren Driechel acknowledged on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, that officers have been dropping detainees directly onto Chinatown streets.
What is the NDP's response?
The NDP proposed a three-part provincial plan to stop the drop-offs, targeting provincial policy on releases and support systems for people exiting custody.
