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By Chris Brown

Police group says engagement tour confirms strong support for Alberta RCMP

Apr 27, 2022 | 5:08 PM

The National Police Federation says Albertans have spoken loud and clear against the United Conservative government’s proposal to replace the RCMP with a new provincial police service.

The NPF recently submitted its report to the government from its Keep Alberta RCMP community engagement tour held early this year and on Wednesday released the results.

According to the report 84 per cent of those who participated oppose replacing the RCMP in Alberta.

Engagement sessions were held across 38 municipalities and there were five virtual sessions. All told, there were more than 1,000 participants including mayors, reeves, councillors, members of the legislative assembly, and members of parliament, NPF says.

The group says the issues of high costs and impacts to public safety continued to be raised.

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“With this report now in the hands of Justice Minister Shandro and Premier Kenney, the ball is in their court on what to do next: listen to their voters, or push ahead with an unpopular and expensive transition,” Brian Sauvé, president, National Police Federation, states in a release. “Since wrapping up our tour, the Union of Safety and Justice Employees (USJE), and both of Alberta’s municipal associations – the Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) and Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) have also separately voiced their concerns regarding a proposed new provincial police service, giving an even stronger voice to what we heard,” he added.

A copy of the final report is available here: Your Police – Your Future: Listening to Albertans