Provincial police force would be beneficial to Albertans: report

The Alberta government has released the study it commissioned on establishing its own provincial police force.

The report, released on Friday, looks at the costs of establishing a provincial police service, the challenges that come with it, and the benefits it could provide to Alberta.

The new police force would look to replace the RCMP in Alberta as soon as 2025, though the report didn’t directly suggest if the province should replace the RCMP.

WATCH: Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu provides details of a study on the feasibility of creating a provincial police service.

“A provincial police service will be able to put more boots on the ground at a total cost equal to, or less than, the total cost for the RCMP,” said Justice Minister Kaycee Madu.

The new police force, if established, would include over 4,000 total staff, more than 3,000 of which are officers, and would be an increase of 121 front-line officers.

Madu says this police force would be able to tackle the root causes of crime, by incorporating mental health and social workers into the provincial police to address addictions and mental health calls for service, especially in rural and Indigenous communities.

“The model also addresses a long-standing concern of many communities in Alberta, that they don’t have enough say in certain local police priorities and ensuring that the RCMP is meeting the needs of their community.”

As for costs, the government says the current cost of the RCMP is around $783M, while the cost of the proposed provincial police force would hover around $735M.

The transitional cost of moving from the RCMP to a provincial police service is estimated to be $366M.

https://twitter.com/Tommy_Slick/status/1454131538614833160

Madu says this is all in no way final and more public engagement is planned to begin next month and into the new year.

The engagement would include Indigenous communities across the province as Madu says he wants them to play a vital role going forward.

NDP MLA and Justice Critic Irfan Sabir said the report is a waste of money, and polls have shown that most Albertans are not in favour of moving away from the Mounties.

“It’s clear that the minister is hearing what he wants to hear and asking Albertans to simply trust him that costs will not go up.”

Sabir also does not buy the assertion there will be no cost increases, as many questions remain around the details of the transition.

“Almost $200 million in federal funding will be given up if we move to a provincial force. On top of this, the UCP’s own report says it will cost $366 million in transition costs alone.”

Sabir suspected there may be some ulterior motives at play in trying to push back the RCMP, especially as they continue to investigate the UCP leadership scandal.

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki acknowledged the report and said he is looking forward to consultations with the rest of Alberta.

WATCH: RCMP Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki comments on the Provincial Police Service study. 

“As of today – and until a decision is made – we remain the police service of jurisdiction here in the province – and we are resolute in our commitment to the safety and security of Albertans,” said Zablocki.

He adds since the study was announced, and despite the uncertainty it has brought to RCMP employees, members have held steadfast in their service to Albertans and the safety of their communities.

“I want all Albertans to know that your Alberta RCMP employees are fiercely proud to serve this province.”

The president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta is another person who was unsure about the report — wondering where Minister Madu was hearing calls for the police force in the first place.

“That’s not what I’m hearing on the ground,” said Paul McLauchlan. “What I’m actually hearing on the ground is, is judicial reform, catch and release, dealing with crime, dealing with substance abuse, poverty, dealing with mental health issues and dealing with organized crime.”

He says getting rid of the RCMP would add a lot of extra costs on to rural Albertans, and it may be better to just look at improving the existing system rather than tearing it down.