RCMP out? Government report suggests it could be more expensive for Alberta
An independent, government-ordered report on the feasibility of a provincial police force suggests a long transition period and a hefty price tag.
The Alberta Provincial Police Service (APPS) Transition Study was released Friday.
The report put the Alberta RCMP under the microscope and examined the impact of an independent force, similar to ones in Ontario and Quebec.
Premier Jason Kenney’s government has been vocal about a potential switch since first taking office, but has still not made a firm commitment to phase out the RCMP.
A new PricewaterhouseCoopers report suggests there could be some hurdles to clear before that move could happen.
COST CHANGE?
The first — and perhaps largest —involves cost.
While the report claims savings in a provincial force could be as high as $49 million, it doesn’t list a roughly $170 million federal subsidy that could be off the table if the RCMP is pushed out of the province.
Currently under the Mounties, various Alberta municipal governments and the province are on the hook for about $613 million a year. The cheapest APPS scenario outlined in the report would cost about $734 million. Another scenario runs as high as $758 million.
The report cost comparison also anticipates about $70 million in salary costs that will likely be included in a new RCMP collective bargaining agreement.
But when repeatedly pushed on the subject Friday, Justice Minister Kaycee Madu was unable to specify how exactly that federal subsidy would be made up.
“At the end of the day, I am confident that (APPS) would be at the same amount or lower than what we currently spend on RCMP,” he said. “I am confident that the costs for establishing the provincial police service will be lower than the cost that we currently incur.”
He says part of those savings could come from training officers in-province, but didn’t reveal how those figures could factor into a large transition cost.
TRANSITION TIMELINE
The transition study goes into detail about the potential impact to policing in the province if an independent force is created.
It estimates a transition price tag of about $366 million and a six-year implementation period.
Alberta’s federal contract with the RCMP ends in 2032.
Currently, 47 municipalities — roughly 42 per cent of the province — use the federal service. Some, like the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, have already expressed opposition to a change.
But the provincial government believes service levels and community input could be improved in areas patrolled by the federal body. Some have also suggested an independent force would keep officers in their postings for longer periods, thus increasing community engagement.
STAFFING MOVES
Friday’s report discusses the creation of 156 new positions, including 121 frontline officers.
It says the addition of mental health experts and social workers is needed in an independent force.
How all of those positions could be filled is still unknown, but employee salary will no doubt be a hot button topic if APPS goes forward.
The study suggests the provincial police force salary would be comparable to ones in Calgary and Edmonton municipal services. But in some Canadian municipalities, Mounties are paid at a higher rate.
The RCMP has also recently had a difficult time filling vacant positions.
Madu still hinted many of the new spots would be filled by locals.
“For me, it comes back to safer communities and making sure that law enforcement is ever closer to the people and the communities that they serve,” he said. “If (other) provinces can establish their own police service and pay for them, I have no doubt that Alberta is well suited to do the same.”
STARE-DOWN
The union representing RCMP officers in Alberta has already pushed back against the idea.
The National Police Federation made a move to trademark potentials force names, including “Alberta Provincial Police Service,” earlier this month.
Whether the legal push will be accepted remains to be seen.
NEXT STEPS
The province has committed to more public engagement on the issue, saying it’ll talk to victim service groups and Indigenous stakeholders.
“This is not a done deal,” Madu said. “Your government has made no decision whatsoever to replace to RCMP.”
The province is promising a public survey in early 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Annual inflation rate increased to 2.9% in March
The annual inflation rate ticked higher in March compared with February, boosted by higher prices for gasoline, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.
Ontario woman charged almost $7,000 for 20-minute taxi ride abroad
An Ontario woman was shocked to find she’d been charged nearly $7,000 after unknowingly using an unauthorized taxi company while on vacation in January.
Freeland to present 2024 federal budget, promising billions in new spending
Canadians will learn Tuesday the entirety of the federal Liberal government's new spending plans, and how they intend to pay for them, when Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the 2024 federal budget.
Tim Hortons launches pizza nationally to 'stretch the brand' to afternoon, night
Tim Hortons is launching flatbread pizzas nationally in a bid to pick up more afternoon and evening customers.
Thousands of dollars worth of tropical fish stolen from Ottawa Valley restaurant
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the theft of "several thousand" dollars worth of tropical fish stolen from an Upper Ottawa Valley restaurant last week.
NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station
NASA confirmed Monday that a mystery object that crashed through the roof of a Florida home last month was a chunk of space junk from equipment discarded at the International Space Station.
B.C. woman facing steep medical bills, uncertain future after Thailand crash
The family of a Victoria, B.C., woman who was seriously injured in an accident in Thailand is pleading for help as medical bills pile up.
A 9-year-old boy's dream of a pet octopus is a sensation as thousands follow Terrance's story online
The one thing 9-year-old Cal Clifford wanted more than anything since he was a toddler was a pet octopus.
190 decaying bodies were found at a Colorado funeral home. Owners charged with COVID fraud of US$880K
A couple who owned a Colorado funeral home where authorities last year discovered 190 decaying bodies were indicted on federal charges that they misspent nearly US$900,000 in pandemic relief funds on vacations, cosmetic surgery, jewelry and other personal expenses, according to court documents unsealed Monday.