The nationwide RCMP union is criticizing what it calls a “deceptive” Alberta authorities panel report that urges Premier Danielle Smith’s authorities to proceed steps to ditch the Mounties.
Brian Sauvé, the pinnacle of the Nationwide Police Federation, says the Alberta Subsequent panel is attempting to revive a proposal that has already been rejected by Albertans.
And he says the panel’s report is utilizing outdated references and inaccurate federal coverage to justify its stance.
The Alberta Subsequent Panel was created and led by Smith to gauge public suggestions on the way to reset the connection with the federal authorities.
The panel held surveys and in-person city corridor conferences this 12 months, and simply earlier than Christmas issued its suggestions.
In its Dec. 18 report, it mentioned there’s concern in regards to the effectiveness of the federal police pressure and urged the federal government to proceed plans handy over the RCMP’s neighborhood policing providers to a provincial counterpart. It mentioned in-person straw polling confirmed assist for shedding the red-donned Mounties, whereas on-line feedback strongly opposed the transfer.
“Ontario and Quebec have proven how a provincial police service can work alongside the RCMP’s federal crimes division. Alberta is now a big province as effectively and may likewise tackle this core factor of self-governance,” it mentioned.
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The report outlines shrinking recruitment, stating there are 500 unfilled positions throughout the police pressure. That’s about one-sixth of the whole officers that, the report says, the province and municipalities pay Ottawa to produce.
However there are an “abundance” of candidates for the growing municipal police pressure in Grande Prairie, Alta., the report says, utilizing the town of about 70,000 for example of why the province can succeed the place the federal group faltered.
Alberta Subsequent Panel’s report additionally means that as Ottawa appears to overtake its police pressure, it can retreat from provincial policing in 2032 when the present agreements expire.
Sauvé took challenge with each these claims, calling the report “politically pushed” and stating it’s obfuscating the truth on the bottom.
“This contains outdated references to RCMP staffing challenges and the mischaracterization of federal coverage, regardless of this federal authorities not too long ago having reaffirmed its dedication to RCMP contract policing past 2032,” Sauvé mentioned in a Monday assertion.
Arthur Inexperienced, a spokesperson for Public Security and Emergency Providers, responded to the union’s feedback by stating the federal government has acquired the panel’s suggestions, will assessment them, and that the federal government is taking motion to make sure it’s assembly the province’s public security wants.
“As soon as totally operational, the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service will assist fill gaps, cut back response occasions, and increase and assist all legislation enforcement within the province, together with the RCMP, First Nations police providers and municipal police,” Inexperienced mentioned.
As a part of the continuing federal-provincial settlement, the RCMP polices about 20 per cent of Albertans, the report says. Due to that, it suggests the problem is simply too narrowly targeted to justify a provincewide referendum.
Alberta RCMP deputy commissioner Trevor Daroux, in an announcement additionally launched Monday, contested the report’s declare.
Daroux said Mounties patrol 95 per cent of the province’s geography and about 40 per cent of its inhabitants.
Daroux admitted that whereas the RCMP had struggled to recruit and retain officers, it has acquired greater than 4,600 functions since April 2024 and was engaged on build up its workforce.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
