Provincial police concept under fire from union

Plan would be expensive and dangerous, group representing RCMP officers says

The union representing the RCMP has launched a campaign against the idea of Alberta creating its own provincial police force.

The creation of a provincial police service to replace the Mounties was a recommendation made in the province's Fair Deal Panel report publicly released in June 2020. The panel found Albertans had concerns over bureaucracy, lack of continuity and response times.

The Alberta government has since retained Pricewaterhousecooper to study the idea of transitioning to a separate police service and the firm is expected to report back in April.

In the meantime, the National Police Federation, which represents approximately 20,000 front-line RCMP members, has launched a public campaign against the idea of having provincial police in Alberta.

Titled Keep Alberta RCMP, the campaign aims to show Albertans that RCMP members are part of the province and allows those who share that sentiment to send a letter to their MLA in support of the Mounties.

The website takes aim at the Fair Deal Panel's findings, stating Albertans will pay more for less service, there would be a threat to community safety and Albertans support the service.

According to the campaign, the federal government pays about 30 per cent of Alberta's RCMP policing costs, or about $112 million annually. If the province replaces the RCMP, taxpayers would be on the hook for that $112 million along with the full cost of a provincial police force and a transition to one.

The website uses the example of when Surrey, B.C., transitioned to a municipal police force from RCMP. It states the costs for doing so tripled to $64 million from original estimates, and that price tag continues to grow.

“At a time when Alberta's economy is facing significant challenges due to the impacts of COVID-19 and uncertain natural resource markets, now is not the time to proceed with unnecessary and costly changes to our policing model,” the website states.

The campaign also states there is risk to community safety if the province transitions away from the RCMP. It states since 2017, public requests for police assistance in emergencies and non-emergencies has grown 20 per cent.

In 2018, the Alberta RCMP designated 30 officers and 40 civilian members to a crime reduction strategy that has achieved a 10-per-cent decrease in crime rates for rural detachments and a six-per-cent decrease for municipal detachments.

“An expensive new police force would put this progress at risk,” the campaign states.

Alberta RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki has previously spoken out on the potential provincial police service. Most recently, in an Oct. 9, 2020, statement, Zablocki said he's heard from the public, local government and community leaders that the approximately 4,500 Alberta RCMP members are “engaged, are doing great work, and are supported in their communities.”

“Our first priority has always been, and will continue to be, keeping Albertans safe,” Zablocki said.

“I believe our success in that priority has been due to the strong partnerships and support we have built together with those we serve, and we will remain committed to working closely with those citizens and communities.”

The campaign site also stressed that RCMP members work, live and serve in Alberta communities and have “significant” provincial oversight, working with the minister of justice and solicitor general to set annual goals and objectives.