Photo: Chris Schwarz / Government of Alberta

By Canadian Press

Government Deciding On Next Steps

Kenney touts provincial police plan to RMA convention

Nov 26, 2021 | 5:08 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is imploring rural leaders to consider the merits of a provincial police force.

And he is promising that any added costs won’t be directly downloaded to municipalities.

Kenney made the comments in a speech today at the fall convention of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.

His United Conservative government is currently deciding next steps following the release of a third-party report into transitioning to an Alberta-run provincial police force instead of using the RCMP in rural areas and some smaller cities.

The report projects it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars more in start-up and operating costs for Alberta to go-it alone on policing, but that there may be more cost-effective service down the line.

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It currently costs Alberta about $500 million a year for the RCMP, with the federal government chipping in $170 million.

Alberta would have to make up that federal money on top of $366 million in start up costs.

NDP Rural Economic Development, Agriculture and Forestry Critic Heather Sweet issued the following statement in response to Premier Kenney’s address:

“Today, we saw a Premier more interested in playing defense than investing in rural communities. Instead of offering a hand up, the Premier showed up empty handed. He glossed over the crisis in health care faced by rural communities where Albertans are losing their family doctor and instead went on a prolonged and tiresome sales pitch around upending the RCMP.

“While our party announced a plan to support agriculture and the mental health of farmers and ranchers, the Premier didn’t even acknowledge this issue. Instead, he said the UCP can’t afford to invest in rural communities. He defended his cuts and told rural leaders to get over it. He also attacked our fully costed and industry verified plan for rural broadband connection without presenting one of his own. Let’s be clear, our party is the only one with a plan to achieve universal, affordable high-speed internet access in Alberta.

“Our party is going to keep listening to rural leaders, instead of talking down to them.”

(With files from rdnewsNOW)