Alberta no longer pursuing plan to dump RCMP for provincial police force

The Alberta government appears to be moving away from its plan to dump the RCMP in favour of a new provincial police force.

Last fall Premier Danielle Smith directed then-justice minister Tyler Shandro and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis to move forward on creating an Alberta force to replace the Mounties in communities that don’t already have their own officers.

But in a new mandate letter delivered Tuesday to Justice Minister Mickey Amery, along with one to Ellis on Monday, no mention was made of creating a provincial force.

Instead, Smith directed Ellis to work with communities to deliver policing options they believe are best.

The Alberta police force option has been studied and touted by the UCP government for years but has faced opposition – including from municipalities – over concerns on cost, implementation and staffing.

Wetaskiwin’s mayor says it’s welcome news for Alberta municipalities, feeling the province heard their concerns about the cost of the change.

“Changing the uniform or the decal on a police vehicle doesn’t increase the safety in our communities,” said Mayor Tyler Gandam.

Gandam, who’s also the director of Alberta Municipalities, says the money would be better spent investing in communities to address crime and disorder.

“We wanted to explore more of the root causes, mental health and addictions, homelessness,’ said Gandam. “Those are our priorities.

“Working with the provincial government on that, and recognizing it is going to take more than just additional police to help with the crime rates across the province”

While there is no longer a push for ousting the RCMP from Alberta, the government is expanding the role of Alberta Sheriffs.

—With files from The Canadian Press