'RCMP asks people for public feedback on 2022-23 policing priorities
The National Police Federation (NPF) launched their Alberta-wide tour advocating for keeping the police service in the province with a Tuesday stop in Fort McMurray.
Community leaders attending the meeting at the Radisson Hotel agreed with the organization’s arguments, but also argued there must be organizational and cultural changes within the RCMP.
The Keep Alberta RCMP tour is a response to the UCP government’s support for replacing the Mounties with a provincial police force.
“The community police initiatives, your rural crime watch, victim services, all of that kind of stuff… those large programs have taken many years to develop,” said NPF regional director Kevin Halwa. “Those things aren’t replicated easily and definitely not replicated quickly.”
A provincial report provided by the auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCooper estimates moving away from the RCMP to a provincial police force would cost $366 million during a six-year period. This force would then cost $734 million annually to operate.
To compare, the 2021 operating costs for the Alberta RCMP is $595 million, with 30 per cent coming from the federal government and 70 per cent covered by the province and municipalities. Halwa argued roughly $180 million in federal funding will be lost if a provincial police force is created.
“There is not a huge appetite to go down this road toward a provincial police service,” he said. “We’ve conducted three rounds of surveys and each one of those surveys indicated that the support for keeping the RCMP is in the neighbourhood of 80 per cent.”
Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu has argued an Alberta police force would be more responsive than the RCMP, better integrate operations and train officers locally. Madu and Premier Jason Kenney have been quick to point out that Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador fund provincial police services.
“I am confident that it would be at the same amount or lower than what we currently spend on RCMP, but as a province, we do have a responsibility beyond the monetary implications to defend and pursue our province’s best interests,” Madu said in October after the PriceWaterhouseCooper report was published.
“If those provinces can establish their own police service and pay for them, then I have no doubt that Alberta is well suited to do the same.”
Bill Loutitt, CEO of the McMurray Metis, says he opposes switching to a provincial police service. However, he argues the RCMP needs leadership and cultural changes if it wants to continue policing communities. He is not a fan of the use of force that has been justified by officers at times. Loutitt wonders how well prepared officers are for situations caused by a mental health crisis or addiction.
“Spend your money there instead of spending it on something that is going to make it worse,” he said after the meeting.
Ward 1 councillor Funky Banjoko said she wants to see more cost and benefit analysis from the province on the issue. Mayor Sandy Bowman has also opposed the creation of a provincial police force and would need to see data, such as community input and funding models, to reconsider.
“I think taxpayers would like to know why we are going to pay that premium, why are we going to make that change, if at all? Hopefully we are not and if we are not, we have to do more to have more effective and fair policing,” said Bonjoko.
Ward 4 Councillor Jane Stroud also wants to see more information on a potential switch, especially around costs and any additional fees charged to the municipality.
The province announced in late October that public engagement meetings will be held with municipal and Indigenous governments, law enforcement organizations and public safety partners such as victim services organizations. A public survey from the government is expected sometime this year.
The NPF is also planning a report based off their sessions that will be presented to the province.
-with files from Laura Beamish, Lisa Johnson and Ashley Joannou
JeHamilton@postmedia.com
Jenna Hamilton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Fort McMurray Today
The National Police Federation (NPF) launched their Alberta-wide tour advocating for keeping the police service in the province with a Tuesday stop in Fort McMurray.
Community leaders attending the meeting at the Radisson Hotel agreed with the organization’s arguments, but also argued there must be organizational and cultural changes within the RCMP.
The Keep Alberta RCMP tour is a response to the UCP government’s support for replacing the Mounties with a provincial police force.
“The community police initiatives, your rural crime watch, victim services, all of that kind of stuff… those large programs have taken many years to develop,” said NPF regional director Kevin Halwa. “Those things aren’t replicated easily and definitely not replicated quickly.”
A provincial report provided by the auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCooper estimates moving away from the RCMP to a provincial police force would cost $366 million during a six-year period. This force would then cost $734 million annually to operate.
To compare, the 2021 operating costs for the Alberta RCMP is $595 million, with 30 per cent coming from the federal government and 70 per cent covered by the province and municipalities. Halwa argued roughly $180 million in federal funding will be lost if a provincial police force is created.
“There is not a huge appetite to go down this road toward a provincial police service,” he said. “We’ve conducted three rounds of surveys and each one of those surveys indicated that the support for keeping the RCMP is in the neighbourhood of 80 per cent.”
Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu has argued an Alberta police force would be more responsive than the RCMP, better integrate operations and train officers locally. Madu and Premier Jason Kenney have been quick to point out that Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador fund provincial police services.
“I am confident that it would be at the same amount or lower than what we currently spend on RCMP, but as a province, we do have a responsibility beyond the monetary implications to defend and pursue our province’s best interests,” Madu said in October after the PriceWaterhouseCooper report was published.
“If those provinces can establish their own police service and pay for them, then I have no doubt that Alberta is well suited to do the same.”
Bill Loutitt, CEO of the McMurray Metis, says he opposes switching to a provincial police service. However, he argues the RCMP needs leadership and cultural changes if it wants to continue policing communities. He is not a fan of the use of force that has been justified by officers at times. Loutitt wonders how well prepared officers are for situations caused by a mental health crisis or addiction.
“Spend your money there instead of spending it on something that is going to make it worse,” he said after the meeting.
Ward 1 councillor Funky Banjoko said she wants to see more cost and benefit analysis from the province on the issue. Mayor Sandy Bowman has also opposed the creation of a provincial police force and would need to see data, such as community input and funding models, to reconsider.
“I think taxpayers would like to know why we are going to pay that premium, why are we going to make that change, if at all? Hopefully we are not and if we are not, we have to do more to have more effective and fair policing,” said Bonjoko.
Ward 4 Councillor Jane Stroud also wants to see more information on a potential switch, especially around costs and any additional fees charged to the municipality.
The province announced in late October that public engagement meetings will be held with municipal and Indigenous governments, law enforcement organizations and public safety partners such as victim services organizations. A public survey from the government is expected sometime this year.
The NPF is also planning a report based off their sessions that will be presented to the province.
-with files from Laura Beamish, Lisa Johnson and Ashley Joannou
JeHamilton@postmedia.com
Jenna Hamilton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Fort McMurray Today
No comments:
Post a Comment