Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) says while it is hopeful a new independent police agency will work it remains disappointed at how the plan unfolded.
“The RMA is cautiously optimistic that the new police agency may enhance safety in rural communities but is disappointed that rural municipalities were not consulted on the idea prior to the introduction of legislation,” the association representing 69 Alberta rural counties and municipal districts said in a Thursday statement.
“It is currently unclear how this entity will work with the RCMP at the local level in terms of collaboration, the development of Community Safety Plans, gathering community input, implementing policing priorities, and more.
“If supported by proper governance and local input, enhanced police capacity is beneficial to rural communities, but there are risks around having two different entities providing similar services within the same community.”
The Government of Alberta has introduced Bill 11: the Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, which would update current policing legislation to establish a new policing organization.
Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis said two weeks ago the new organization would work alongside police services across the province. Officers in the new agency would take on the responsibility for the roles currently carried out by the Alberta Sheriffs.
The province says the agency will support RCMP, municipal and First Nations police services with the goal of allowing other police services across the province to spend more of their time on core operations and frontline duties.
Ellis insists that the agency is not intended to replace the RCMP and no decision has been made on the creation of an Alberta Provincial Police Service — an idea panned by the RMA and Alberta Municipalities, which represents almost 260 urban municipalities.
Alberta Municipalities president Tyler Gandam said following the announcement that he’s looking forward to hearing more about how the agency will work, but is disappointed there were no consultations with his group’s members.
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which represents the province’s sheriffs, also criticized the government and the lack of consultation with its members who will be directly affected by any changes.
The National Police Federation, which represents 20,000 Mounties, said it was “deeply concerned and perplexed” that Alberta was laying the groundwork for a new independent police agency when the government has failed to boost RCMP funding to keep pace with an increasing population.