Justice Minister and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer shakes hands with an RCMP officer in Leduc County. - Government of Alberta photo

By Charles Lefebvre

Police funding

More RCMP officers coming to Alberta following funding announcement

Dec 4, 2019 | 11:40 AM

LEDUC, AB — More RCMP officers will be coming to Alberta following a recent announcement from the provincial government.

Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer announced Wednesday that all three levels of government will be investing over $286 million dollars in policing over the next five years, calling it the largest overall investment in rural policing “since The March West.”

During the announcement, Schweitzer says the funding will create more than 500 new law enforcement positions. Of those positions, the majority will be RCMP officers, bringing the total in the province up from 1,600 to 1,900.

The remaining staff positions will be support staff and behind the scenes positions, including new auto theft and scrap metal theft units.

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RCMP Deputy commissioner Curtis Zablocki says the funding will allow RCMP to more effectively tackle rural crime.

“This investment means more front line officers patrolling in our rural communities starting this year, and in the years ahead,” he said. “It also means enhancing our visibility and response times, effectively addressing those inherent challenges that we find in rural policing, and most importantly, enhancing safety in your community, no matter where you live in the province.”

Schweitzer adds the province will also create a new Alberta Police Advisory Board to discuss how police funding will be spent.

The province notes small and rural communities will begin contributing a portion of their front line policing costs starting next year. In April 2020, municipalities will contribute 10 per cent of their policing costs, with the number riding up to 30 per cent by 2022.

The Town of Redcliff, who already pays $1.2 million for policing in Alberta, says it is not impacted by the funding changes.

Cypress County Reeve Dan Hamilton says they also pay to have an officer in the county. He says it’s also too soon to know how much the county will be paying in costs for front line policing.

“Definitely, it will come into council on where we will have to go and what kind of costs are going to come out of it,” he said. “We’re trying to be proactive on it, and see what we need to do to maintain what they’re asking of us.”

A spokesperson for Schweitzer’s office says they expect the first 100 officers to be hired by next year.