Red Deer keeping close eye on province’s policing review

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The summit on Feb. 17 allowed members to share information on funding models for provincial police services in other jurisdictions, and discuss the experiences of municipalities who have transitioned (or considered transitioning) from the RCMP to a municipal police service.

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The event also gave members the opportunity to learn details of the provincial government’s engagement process for the provincial police service feasibility study, and hear from key stakeholders about their positions on provincial police.

Members also gained feedback regarding key risks, benefits, and concerns for municipalities for AUMA to develop an advocacy position.

Veer says the event was a good follow up to the city’s independent and comprehensive review of policing services which began in November, 2018 and later concluded with council approving continued support of the RCMP in January, 2020.

“But soon after we adopted the Red Deer approach for the next few years for policing in the community, the province announced that they would be reviewing the Police Act and would be looking at a provincial police force as well,” recalls Veer.

“As representatives of the people of Red Deer, it’s imperative that we participate in any of the briefings and updates coming from the provincial government, so that we can keep our pulse on the direction that the provincial government may be heading and identifying any potential impacts to the people of Red Deer.”

Veer says the government has commissioned a consultant to review policing in Alberta to look at any recommendations and collaborate with stakeholders about any potential impacts that changes may have.

“I would say that the provincial issues identified are very much in alignment with the Red Deer issues that we thoroughly discussed two years ago. I wouldn’t necessarily say that there was any new information, but it was informative from the perspective of learning what stage of the process the government was at.

“Essentially, they’re in the preliminary fact finding stage and had indicated that they would be formally consulting with municipalities as they go through the process,” adds Veer.

Moving forward, however, Veer says the City will be keeping a close eye on this file.

“Because once the provincial government moves down a clear path of making a decision, it will have impacts either way on our local policing model,” she admits.

“I suspect that the process will potentially take longer than the provincial government may be anticipating, just because of the potential for differences of opinion from the urban and rural policing perspective.”