Alberta proposes new commission to handle complaints against police

The province says these changes will give Albertans confidence that the “police are no longer investigating police.”

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis adds that this would be the first major overhaul of the Police Act in Alberta in 34 years.

“Police should have a strong connection to their community, functioning as a police service that is an extension of the people it serves rather than a strong arm of the government,” says Ellis. “This first major update to the Police Act in generations is a blueprint for building police services in Alberta that embody that principle, with reforms that strengthen accountability, give communities more input and promote diversity.”

The PAA proposes to make a series of other changes as well.

It would enable the Minister of Justice to set provincial policing priorities and local police commissions to create their own list of priorities.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ASIRT), which investigates the causes of death and serious injuries involving police officers in Alberta, would have its mandate expanded to include incidents involving peace officers employed by provincial organizations such as the Alberta Sheriffs and community peace officers working at the municipal level.

The legislation would require police agencies to develop community safety plans and report annually on their progress.

Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police President Mark Neufeld says the proposed changes to the Police Act are long overdue.

“We have advocated for several years that the act needs reform to bring it more in line with the realities of the modern police workplace. This is also an opportunity to enhance independence and transparency in the complaints process, which will enrich trust and confidence across our province,” says Neufeld. “We welcome the opportunity to improve our processes to better reflect our professional and innovative practices in Alberta.”

The proposed amendments follow an extensive consultation process that started back in 2018.

It included meetings with over 200 organizations in law enforcement, health and social services, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, and diverse communities. Nearly 15,000 Albertans completed a survey on the topic.

Irfan Sabir, NDP Justice Critic, issued the following statement in response to the Police Amendment Act:

“The Alberta NDP supports civilian oversight of law enforcement in order to ensure policing is responsive to the needs and diversity of our communities, but this legislation is very thin on details regarding how they plan to achieve these goals.

“This legislation gives the UCP government sweeping powers to interfere in local policing commissions and matters. It is a disturbing step towards the politicization of policing from a government that has a record of political interference in law enforcement and the administration of justice.

“Albertans do not trust the UCP when it comes to policing.

“The UCP government has downloaded millions of dollars onto municipalities in policing costs in the last three years, and despite significant opposition from the majority of Albertans and municipalities, the UCP remains hellbent on creating a costly provincial police force that they can control and direct.

“In addition, we are concerned about the UCP’s record of cuts to courts, Legal Aid, corrections, and mental health and addictions. In particular, the UCP has underfunded and undermined ASIRT, which has resulted in the organization losing staff and falling badly behind on its important work.

“Without adequate funding for our justice system and proper checks and balances to prevent the UCP’s political interference, this legislation is meaningless and will not improve trust in our law enforcement or safety in our communities.

“We will be reaching out to municipalities and stakeholders and will have more to say about this bill in the coming days.”

by David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Alberta proposes new commission to handle complaints against police

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