The UCP government is continuing with plans to establish a provincial police force in Alberta, but concern is growing from several sides, including the union that represents the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The provincial government’s Fair Deal Panel recommended the creation of a provincial police force last year, saying the RCMP has become too bureaucratically inflexible and smaller communities aren’t getting enough front-line officers.
In Alberta, the National Police Federation represents about 4,000 RCMP members and reservists below the rank of inspector. It has launched a campaign called Keep Alberta RCMP, encouraging Albertans to learn more about how a switch could affect them and to contact their elected officials with concerns.