The union representing Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers and the Alberta RCMP command are voicing strong opposition to a recent panel's recommendation for the province to establish its own police service, labeling the proposed transition a needless distraction.
Union Slams Proposal as Rehashed and Unwanted
Jeff McGowan, a director for the National Police Federation's prairie region, criticized the Alberta Next Panel for "rehashing" ideas he says Albertans have already rejected. McGowan stated the union's polling indicates a lack of public support for replacing the RCMP, with residents more concerned about affordability, healthcare, and education.
"I think the public generally realizes that we have more serious problems and issues within the province, and we should stop trying to focus on something that, by all estimates, is a distraction," McGowan said. "I'm not sure what's exactly to be gained from any sort of transition."
He raised significant concerns about the unanswered questions surrounding the cost and operational logistics of a provincial force. McGowan also questioned the panel's impartiality, suggesting it was "stacked with like minded individuals" and that some voices were excluded from its town halls.
Panel's Findings and RCMP's Provincial Role
The Alberta Next Panel released its report on December 19, recommending the province proceed with creating an Alberta Police Service (APS). The plan involves transitioning community policing services from the RCMP to the new APS and municipal police services.
The panel's report presented mixed feedback: it noted "clear majority support" in its in-person polling, but a "clear majority oppose" in online surveys. A separate professional poll indicated 52 per cent of respondents were opposed to the change. Despite some support for retaining the RCMP, the panel reported evident concern about policing levels, "especially in smaller communities." The report recommends offering current RCMP officers and staff employment with the new APS.
In a statement, Alberta RCMP Deputy Commissioner Trevor Daroux highlighted the force's extensive role, noting it provides policing services to roughly 40 per cent of Alberta’s population across 95 per cent of the province’s geography. This includes 20 per cent of Albertans in rural communities and another 20 per cent through municipal policing contracts.
Mounting Skepticism Over Transition's Value
The criticism from frontline police representation and RCMP leadership adds a significant layer of skepticism to the provincial policing proposal. The core argument centers on the perceived lack of public mandate, unresolved financial implications, and the belief that provincial resources would be better directed elsewhere.
As the debate continues, the focus remains on whether the provincial government will act on the panel's recommendation amidst this pronounced opposition from within the policing community itself.
