Keep Alberta RCMP

Dear Alberta MLAs,

I am writing to express my serious concern about the Government of Alberta’s proposal to replace the Alberta RCMP with an expensive and unwanted new provincial police service.

Like many Albertans, I am alarmed that the APPS Transition Study recommended a smaller Alberta Provincial Police Service than the current Alberta RCMP model, while costing hundreds of millions of dollars more each year when you include losing $188 million in federal contributions. This doesn’t even include the hundreds of millions required for transition costs over several years.

I am becoming increasingly concerned that the Province will push through the transition to an APPS without properly consulting regular Albertans and taxpayers, like me. Unfortunately, we have only heard the government ask how a transition can be done, and not if a transition should even be explored.

This, along with the lack of any meaningful consultation with the constituents you serve, is unfair, undemocratic, and disrespectful.

We deserve clear answers to our questions and concerns. None of the following questions have been answered, and they must before any decision is made.

Where will money for this transition come from?
Why would the Province consider less fully trained officers than what Albertans have with the current RCMP contingent?
Where and how will the Province train enough officers to fill the ranks of a new APPS?
How would an APPS do things any better than the RCMP can now?
When will a true feasibility study be conducted to understand the full cost impacts, as recommended in the APPS Transition Study?

Please show us that you are listening to our concerns. Don’t put our community safety at risk, especially when an overwhelming majority of us do not support a switch to a provincial police service. Let’s cancel this transition, keep the RCMP in Alberta, and work together to improve police services and the criminal justice system where it’s most needed.

I look forward to your response.

Tell the provincial government to Keep the RCMP in Alberta

Our Ask of Albertans

We have been talking to Albertans, elected officials, and community leaders to hear their thoughts and ideas firsthand, and there is one thing we have heard loud and clear - Albertans want to keep the RCMP in Alberta.

We encourage Albertans to speak out against this expensive, unpopular, and politicized police transition by sending a letter to your MLA, the Justice Minister, and Premier.

The Issue

The Province of Alberta is looking at options to improve Alberta’s place in Canada as part of a “Fair Deal Panel Review.” The panel’s recommendations include replacing the RCMP with an expensive new Provincial Police Service.

1. Paying More for Less

The Government of Alberta (GoA) is proposing to replace the Alberta RCMP with a smaller Alberta Provincial Police Service (APPS) which would cost Albertans hundreds of millions more for far fewer fully-trained police officers.

The federal government pays 30% of Alberta’s RCMP policing costs – that’s ~$185 million annually. If Alberta were to replace the RCMP, Alberta taxpayers and local communities would be on the hook for the full cost of provincial policing, plus transition costs that are currently estimated to be ~$366 million. Based on actual costs in other jurisdictions, this could double, triple, or worse.
When you need the police, which would you rather have: 3,097 fully trained RCMP Members or 1,613 fully trained APPS officers to respond to high-risk, complex, urgent calls for service?

2. Risks to Community Safety

A transition creates real risks to ongoing policing improvements, including proven-successful crime reduction strategies in rural and remote communities.

Rural policing is complex and quickly evolving requiring officers to be fully trained for any possible event or issue in large areas with few neighbours and back-up.
The Alberta RCMP dedicated 30 officers and 40 civilians to a Crime Reduction Strategy, which has led to a successful 10% decrease in crime rates for rural detachments and 6% for municipal detachments so far. An expensive, smaller, and disruptive new police force would put this progress at risk.
From 2017 to 2018, public requests for police assistance in both emergency and non-urgent matters in Alberta have risen 24%.

3. Albertans Support the RCMP

A recent online survey conducted by Pollara from October 27 to November 4, 2021, shows that Albertans support the Alberta RCMP and do not support this expensive proposal:

84% want to keep the RCMP and only 9% of Albertans support this proposed transition
92% want a detailed accounting of the full costs of transition before any decision is made
80% of Albertans served by the RCMP are consistently satisfied with the Alberta RCMP (Reference only: 85% in rural north communities - 81% in rural central communities - 71% in rural south communities)

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Facts and Resources

Alberta RCMP working hard to keep you safe

Reducing rural crime continues to be a priority of the Alberta RCMP. Thanks to investments and programs implemented by the RCMP, in partnership with the Government of Alberta (GoA), the province continued to see a significant drop in crime rates in 2021.

21% reduction in Possession of Stolen Goods offences
15% decrease in Break and Enters
8% drop in Thefts of Motor Vehicles
10% decrease in Theft Over and Under $5000

For more information on the Alberta RCMP's Crime Reduction Strategy by detachment, click here.

Resources

RCMP – Provincial police model comparison: At-a-glance comparison between the current RCMP model and the proposed provincial police service model in Alberta.
Frequently Asked Questions: Common questions about the RCMP in Alberta and the proposed transition to a provincial police service.
KeepAlbertaRCMP Discussion Guide: This guide contains all key information regarding the proposed provincial police transition provided at KeepAlbertaRCMP engagement sessions.
Alberta Provincial Police Services Agreement (PPSA): This document outlines the roles, responsibilities, and priorities for the RCMP in Alberta, and makes it clear that the Alberta Minister of Justice sets the policing agenda and priorities for the province - not Ottawa.

Latest News

June 16, 2022

Media Statement: Alberta Justice Minister Misleading Albertans on Details of Transition to New Provincial Police Service

June 16, 2022 Edmonton, AB — Following is a statement from National Police Federation Regional Directors Kevin Halwa and Jeff McGowan, and Vice President Michelle Boutin, in response to a recent opinion editorial from Alberta Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Tyler Shandro:

$550+ Million Reasons to Keep the Alberta RCMP