If passed, Bill 49 would allow municipalities to choose the new policy agency as their local policing provider, rather than the RCMP.
In Spring 2024, the Government of Alberta (GOA) announced the Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, which amends the Police Act to allow for the creation of an independent agency police service. This police agency would fulfill police-like functions currently performed by the Alberta Sheriffs. Most recently, the Government of Alberta announced Bill 49, the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, which makes further legislative amendments for the creation of this new police agency, including the establishment of a Crown corporation to deliver police services independently from the government.
The most notable change for RMA members is that municipalities would have the option of choosing the new police agency as their local policing provider instead of the RCMP. The GOA’s stated objective of for creating an independent policy agency is to meet the province’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, especially in rural areas.
The GOA maintains that this new police service will work closely with all police services in Alberta, including the RCMP, to ensure the safety of all Albertans.
The creation of this new police agency is not included in Budget 2025 and there is no information on the cost to transition or the timelines that will be followed for its implementation. There is also no information about how this new policing agency will work alongside RCMP frontline officers, policing committees, or oversight boards. RMA is seeking more information on how this new policing agency will affect the Police Funding Model and the Provincial Police Advisory Board.
The RMA will share further information regarding the implications of this Bill on members in the coming weeks.
Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
855.319.2245
kallie@rmalberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@rmalberta.com