The Government of Alberta has proposed the creation of a new independent police agency. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Alberta introduces bill to create independent police agency

Mar 13, 2024 | 2:16 PM

The Government of Alberta has taken a major step in its plans to create a new law enforcement agency.

The Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, was introduced into the legislature on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

If passed, the province said the Act would enable the creation of a new organization that would work alongside police services across the province. Officers would take on the responsibility of “police-like functions” that are currently carried out by the Alberta Sheriffs.

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis said this will improve the government’s ability to respond to communities’ requests for additional law enforcement support.

“These changes are part of a broader paradigm shift that reimagines police as an extension of the community rather than as an arm of the state,” said Ellis. “Having a new police agency perform these functions under the legal framework of policing legislation will ensure they’re carried out with the transparency, accountability and independence which Albertans should expect from law enforcement.”

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This model appears to be different than the Alberta Provincial Police Service that was first proposed by then-Justice Minister Tyler Shandro in 2022. At the time, Shandro had suggested replacing the Alberta RCMP altogether with a new police service.

READ MORE: Alberta Government unveils provincial police proposal

In the new proposal, however, the province said the independent police agency will have the authority and jurisdiction to support the RCMP, municipal police services, and First Nations police services in Alberta.

“The RCMP will continue to operate as the provincial police service,” said the Alberta government.

Provincial officials say the new agency would follow best practices, which include being subject to a civilian oversight board that would have a similar local police commissions.