CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Cypress County eager to move forward with RCMP after province steps back from provincial police plan

Aug 4, 2023 | 4:06 PM

DUNMORE, AB – For close to three years the United Conservative government has been studying the idea of a provincial police force to augment or replace the RCMP.

The idea was seemingly put on the back burner this week.

Mandate letters sent this week to Justice Minister Mickey Amery and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis make no mention of creating such a service.

An Alberta police service was one of the recommendations made in 2020 by the Fair Deal Panel that looked at ways for the province to assert its independence from Ottawa.

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

5h ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

5h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

13h ago

The idea wasn’t well received locally or by Rural Municipalities of Alberta, says Cypress County’s director of municipal services Kim Dalton.

“In 2021 we made a motion and had a letter of support for the RCMP and with the association of the RMA was advocating for the support of the RCMP and not the provincial police force,” Dalton says.

Surveys conducted from 2021 to 2023 by polling companies and commissioned by groups like the National Police Federation and Alberta Municipalities were consistent.

They found little support for replacing the RCMP with a provincial police service. Cypress County residents agreed, says Dalton.

“Most of our councillors heard feedback from ratepayers that they were in support of the RCMP model and I think that was the sentiment throughout rural Alberta.”

Dalton says there were concerns about the unknown costs to replace the RCMP and they like the service Mounties were providing.

While running for the UCP leadership last summer Danielle Smith promoted replacing the RCMP as a way to make Alberta communities safer. She said that’s the direction party members gave at their AGM

“I think we all know that our rural neighbours feel like they have to take matters into their own hands sometimes because we end up having the RCMP not close enough to be able to respond to a call. It’s terrifying for them,” she said at the Edmonton leadership debate.

In November after winning the leadership and the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection, she directed then-justice minister Tyler Shandro to work with the public safety minister to finalize a decision on establishing an Alberta police service.

Fast forward to this spring’s election and a provincial police force wasn’t part of the UCP campaign. The mandate letters sent this week further suggest the party has changed course.

Dalton acknowledges rural crime is escalating in the county and the rest of rural Alberta. He notes there are positives like the good rapport citizens have with the special constable.

Now, Dalton says Cypress County is looking forward to continuing and improving its relationship with the RCMP.

“Working with council on the initiatives that they have through the Rural Crime Watch to the different reporting programs that they have for rural crime,” he says.

All in the name of safer communities in southeastern Alberta.