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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

province, ottawa both need to speak up

Reaction mixed as UCP proposing choice of police force for municipalities

Apr 8, 2025 | 4:00 PM

The Government of Alberta is proposing amendments which it says would ensure the province’s evolving safety needs are met by giving municipalities choice in policing.

Bill 49, or the Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, would create a new independent agency police service to assume the police-like duties of Alberta Sheriffs, the government says.

If passed, the new agency would be a Crown corporation with an independent board of directors, and it would operate independent from government, officials add.

Officers in the new service would be employed by the service itself, rather than the government, as is the case with sheriffs.

Further amendments, the government explains, would allow municipalities to select the new agency as their local police service, with RCMP the default option.

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“The RCMP proudly remains Alberta’s provincial police force…”

“With this bill, we are taking the necessary steps to address the unique public safety concerns in communities across Alberta,” says Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis.

“As we work towards creating an independent agency police service, we are providing an essential component of Alberta’s police framework for years to come. Our aim for the new agency is to ensure that Albertans are safe in their communities and receive the best possible service when they need it most.”

Once established, Ellis adds, the agency would strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which include the RCMP, Indigenous police services and municipal police.

In a statement to rdnewsNOW, Alberta RCMP spokesperson, Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, shared the following:

“We take note of Alberta’s announcement that the province is taking steps to amend the Police Act through Bill 49. The RCMP proudly remains Alberta’s provincial police force and we are focused on continuing to deliver a professional police service to ensure public and officer safety. Regardless of any amendments or future decisions about local law enforcement, we remain an integral part of Albertans’ safety and continue to provide world class police services. The RCMP is always willing to work with our partners on how best to meet the needs of the communities we serve and maintain public safety and confidence. We will continue to collaborate with all of our provincial/territorial, and municipal partners.”

Meanwhile, Red Deer’s outgoing mayor, Ken Johnston, said the city’s support for the RCMP is unwavering, but there are some things both sides need to be clear about.

Johnston believes what the province is doing is positive, from a certain point of view.

“The province is incorporating an independent agency to oversee sheriffs, and good governance is when police forces aren’t reporting into a political body. It’s becoming clear the province is building, if you will, the legislative infrastructure that will eventually become an Alberta police force,” he remarked Tuesday.

“I think it’s time for the province — and the RCMP and federal government — to set out a vision for provincial policing. We’ve seen bits and pieces added to this the last three or four years, with funding studies, the police oversight committee, the sheriffs being dispatched, and SCAN; it would be fundamentally a good idea for the province to come out and talk to what their vision is for provincial policing.”

As for Ottawa and RCMP headquarters, the contract with Alberta is up in 2032, Johnston noted, so they also need to provide some clear signals.

“There was a ‘white paper‘ done and there’s a debate whether RCMP should stay in community policing or become a national sort of FBI-like force; these are all questions that mid-sized cities really need to have answered,” added Johnston.

“From a notice perspective, I’d love if the RCMP would signal us in the next couple years because it takes time to do a transition.”

It’s unclear when municipalities will begin to have the option the province is laying the groundwork for them to have, but it could very well be post-municipal election when Johnston is out of office.

It’s hard to predict what a new council would do, because like anything, he said, sticking with RCMP wouldn’t be a foregone conclusion.

What could be interesting, Johnston noted, is if it becomes a hot-button municipal election issue.

“Any member of council can bring a motion tomorrow which brings into review any facet of community concern. This council, I believe, has reconciled around the use of the RCMP. They have the results in terms of service times, community involvement, technology, crime stats etc.,” he said.

“It is possible that in an election season, there could be some advocacy by candidates, and that would simply return to the floor — if those candidates are elected — that issue.”

Read more on the proposed changes here.

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