Province To Cover 39% RCMP Cost Hike

With over 400 vacant RCMP positions and a 39% cost hike looming, Albertans are paying more for less protection.

Under the existing shared funding agreement with Ottawa to contract rural Alberta policing services to the RCMP, costs to municipalities have gone up - starting at 10% in 2020 and reaching 30% in 2023.

But it's about to get even worse.

"The expiring regulation would have municipalities seeing a 39 per cent increase in their costs - with no improvement in policing services delivered," said Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis last week.

“We know this is not acceptable for many municipalities,” added Ellis.

So, now, the Province will pay for the increase in costs, instead of downloading the problem onto the books of municipalities across Alberta.

The rise in costs can largely be attributed to a salary increase granted to RCMP members by the federal government, but which provinces and municipalities around the country are expected to pay for.

“We’re one of the core people that are paying for that increase, but we’re not at the table negotiating it,” said the Mayor of Okotoks, Tanya Thorn.

The RCMP provides contract local policing outside of major cities across the country - except in Ontario and Quebec, who have their own police services independent of federal control.

With Alberta stepping in to cover the cost increases this year, municipalities in the province will see their policing costs fixed year over year, and the province is planning to review the police funding model over the next year.

“With the costs frozen for a year, we look forward to a comprehensive review of the police funding model with our municipal partners,” said Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.

“During our review, we will carefully consider all factors to ensure we provide an updated funding model that is sustainable.”

The shared funding model has led to a $235.4 million investment into police services over five years by the province, adding 285 regular members and 244 civilian positions - including several new oversight commissions.

Earlier this year, Ellis reported that the RCMP officer vacancy rate stands at 21.6%.

At the time, Ottawa had authorized 1,911 officers for the province, but only 1,498 officers were in active service - meaning 413 positions were vacant.

“Make no mistake, we are paying for these services that we are not receiving — that is over 400 vacant RCMP officer positions for boots that are not on the ground,” said Ellis.

To make matters worse, the RCMP’s independent advisory board has warned that the federal police agency should consider leaving contract policing when the existing contracts expire.

In April, the Management Advisory Board tabled a report on the sustainability of federal policing that says that the RCMP must adapt or die - putting the onus on the federal government to step up to ensure public safety across Canada.

"Federal policing has now arrived at a critical juncture of its sustainability, which present risks for the national security and safety of Canada, its people, and its interests," says the report.

"Canada and its people have already begun to see the repercussions of the federal policing program being stretched thin."

The report goes on to say that shortfalls in cash flow and personnel have "operationally limited" the RCMP, limiting the workload the police service can undertake.

So, all the discussion about whether Alberta should adopt a provincial police force might be moot.

We might be forced to do so by the federal government.

But, if that happens, the Alberta government is prepared.

Last month, the province created oversight commissions for the policing governance framework in Alberta.

The Alberta Police Review Commission will deal with complaints against municipal police officers in the province (already under provincial jurisdiction), and RCMP detachments serving areas with over 15,000 residents will be required to establish local commissions.

“Unique communities have unique public safety priorities and the creation of civilian governance bodies will address this issue,” said Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis. 

“Creating mandatory civilian governance bodies also ensures accountability, as officers will be held responsible for their actions and behaviour.”

Despite the warnings, shortfalls in service delivery and increase in costs, the National Police Federation is still working hard to keep the RCMP in Alberta.

A public sector union representing the financial well-being of the officers within the RCMP, the organization has spent an unspecified amount of union dues fighting the Province - and advocacy groups such as ours - on the implementation of an Alberta Police Service.

This is in spite of the fact that the RCMP (where policy priorities are set by Ottawa) has proven unable to meet Alberta’s needs effectively.

Alberta is at a crossroads.

As we face rising policing costs, officer shortages, and a federal system stretched to its breaking point, it’s time for Albertans to decide what kind of future we want for our communities.

An Alberta Police Service offers us a path forward that’s tailored to our priorities, responsive to our communities, and focused on public priorities that are set by the province - not a distant government located across the country.

Let’s make Alberta safer and more self-sufficient. 

If you support an Alberta Police Service, add your voice to our movement. Share this email with your friends and family, and let them know the stakes. 

Also, if you are in a position to contribute financially, we need your help.

We are up against well-funded public sector unions fighting tooth and nail to keep federal control of policing in Ottawa.

Together, we can bring effective, accountable, and locally governed policing back to Alberta.

Regards,

The Free Alberta Strategy Team