The Government of Alberta has launched a website outlining details about a potential provincial police force.
In a release Wednesday, government officials said www.futureofabpolicing.ca would provide the public with information about the possible benefits of a provincial police force.
“Albertans have told us they want more details about the potential benefits of a provincial police service,” said Tyler Shandro, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.
“As all levels of governments across the country review their policing models, Albertans need to have all the information available to ensure they lead this national discussion and make sure the future of policing in the province meets their needs.”
The province said Wednesday that the website shows Albertans the potential for improved civilian oversight, more front-line police officers and better service across Alberta.
In a 2020 report, the province hire PwC to study the feasibility of a provincial police force and the report found that the transition price tag would be about $366 million and would require six years to implement.
The new website also says that there will be no additional costs downloaded to municipalities as a result of the shift to a provincial police force.
The Rural Municipalities of Alberta opposed the change in early 2022, saying the government has yet to demonstrate how the switch would increase policing services in rural areas or policing costs, or input into local policing.
“While the proposed model recommends a specific number of officers and support staff, it does not address how these resources will be distributed,” the RMA said in April.
“Additionally, the costs presented in the report are a product of assumptions and estimates, with limited explanation of the methodology used. Regardless, the report identifies an annual increase in provincial costs due to the transition as the 30 per cent of provincial policing costs covered by the federal government would be lost. In addition, the transition cost of $366 million represents a significant unnecessary burden for Alberta taxpayers.”
The release from the province states that the “federal government has indicated that there are sustainability issues across the whole of the RCMP. The prime minister recently directed Public Safety Canada to conduct a review of RCMP contract policing,” while, “several provinces and municipalities that currently use RCMP contract policing are considering alternative policing models”.