Monday, January 24, 2022

Municipal leaders question Alberta government push to fund provincial police force

Lisa Johnson 1 day ago
Edmonton Journal 
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Stock photo of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) logo at K-Division headquarters in Edmonton.

Alberta municipal leaders say rather than investing hundreds of millions of dollars into a provincial police force, the government should focus on increasing funding to address the major drivers of crime.


Alberta Municipalities, formerly the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, held a virtual summit Wednesday night on the future of policing in the province, with more than 400 local government officials, including mayors, councillors and chief administrative officers.

President Cathy Heron said in an interview Friday with Postmedia locally elected officials agreed tackling mental health, addictions, and homelessness would help solve a lot of issues related to crime.

“That could happen under an RCMP model as well. So, the question should not be ‘Who is delivering policing in Alberta?’ The question should be, ‘What does that look like? And how is it delivered?’ ” said Heron.

A PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report commissioned by the government concluded that dumping the RCMP in favour of a provincial service would cost Alberta approximately $200 million more annually and come with a $366-million price tag at least for the transition, but could provide better service, more officers on the ground, dedicated mental health nurses and social workers.

However, Heron noted that social work and health care is a provincial responsibility, which raises concerns for municipal leaders, many of whom fear costs will be downloaded onto their cities and towns.

Premier Jason Kenney has repeatedly promised the province, not municipalities, would pay any extra costs.

“We should at least look at the possible benefits of rural Alberta experiencing the same kind of local community policing as Edmonton and Calgary and some of the mid-sized cities in Alberta,” Kenney said at the November convention of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.

The idea of creating a provincial police force was one of the Fair Deal Panel’s 25 recommendations, despite the panel finding that only 35 per cent of Albertans supported the idea.

Heron said municipal leaders had a long list of unanswered logistical questions on top of their financial concerns, including how police commissions would be appointed, and what authority local councils and commissions would have.

Alberta’s government plans to hold 70 meetings with law enforcement organizations, municipal and Indigenous governments, and public safety organizations such as victim services and rural crime watch groups.

The National Police Federation, the union representing RCMP members, is also making a public push across the province with its consultation efforts. Heron said she’s encouraging her colleagues to attend both.

“When we did our analysis of the PwC report, we just ended up with more questions. So, we’re going to enter these engagement sessions hoping to get answers. That’s the transparency we’re calling for,” said Heron.

In March, Alberta Municipalities is expected to ratify the associations’ position for or against a potential provincial police service at a leaders caucus meeting.

Heron said she would push for a referendum on the issue, and for all Albertans who have a stake to get a vote, including those in cities like Calgary and Edmonton.

The Justice Ministry did not provide a response to Alberta Municipalities’ statements as of press time Friday.

lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix

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