Temporary police and criminal court changes planned during G8 Summit
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By Terry Jorden and Kim MacDonald
In order to provide the best security possible for the G8 Summit in Kananaskis Country this June, Albertans will see some temporary changes to policing and the operation of the province's criminal courts.
RCMP policing in Alberta communities will remain at regular levels. Local RCMP officers who have been assigned to the G8 will be temporarily replaced by officers from other provinces during the days of the summit.
The court changes will be in place the week prior to the June 26-27 summit, and operations are expected to return to normal on July 3, 2002.
Criminal trials and preliminary hearings in all centres except Edmonton will not be scheduled between June 17 and July 2, 2002 to accommodate the hundreds of police and Court and Prisoner Security officers who will be required during and after the summit. Criminal proceedings in Edmonton will not be booked only between June 20 and June 28, 2002.
"It is important to note that we are not shutting down the justice system. We are simply postponing criminal cases for a short period," said Justice Minister Dave Hancock. Civil trials, criminal docket court, early case resolution, judicial dispute resolution, child welfare, family law cases and other matters not requiring police witnesses or prisoner transport will proceed normally. Additional docket courts will be opened to ensure anyone arrested in relation to the summit receives timely access to a first appearance.
