Tonight I was informed of two Lethbridge police officers who had been conducting an unauthorized surveillance of MLA Shannon Phillips in 2017. I share in the outrage being expressed by many following this news.

To say it is completely unacceptable that members of the police would conduct unauthorized surveillance of any Albertan - in particular an elected official - is an understatement. /2

Law enforcement is entrusted with a great deal of power, so it is particularly egregious when that power is abused. /3

I was not previously aware of this incident nor was the government involved in the professional standards investigation which resulted in the temporary demotion of the two officers involved. /4

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been ordered to conduct a comprehensive review of the professional standards investigation to determine if there are grounds for a criminal investigation. /5

I have instructed my department to arrange for an out-of-province prosecutor should ASIRT require legal advice in conducting its investigation, including the determination of laying charges. /6