The GOA has introduced legislation that will enable the creation of an independent police agency
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. This 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.
According to the Government of Alberta, this independent police agency will have the authority and jurisdiction to support the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), municipal police services, and First Nations police services in Alberta, with the goal of allowing other police services across the province to spend more of their time on core operations and frontline duties.
The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services has claimed that no decision has been made on the creation of an Alberta Provincial Police Service and that this new agency is not intended to replace the RCMP.
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. 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 RMA will share further information with members as it becomes available.
Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
855.319.2245
kallie@RMAlberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com