DIDSBURY - A closed-door meeting hosted by Alberta Justice and Solicitor General for area municipal elected officials last week did not include any opportunity for mayors or councillors to provide input into the possibility of forming an Alberta provincial police service (APPS), says Didsbury mayor Rhonda Hunter.
Held in Red Deer on Feb. 7, the meeting saw ministry officials outline the UCP-government sponsored Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) report that examined the possibility of creating an APPS, but did not include any consultation or other input opportunity, she said.
“They were there to give a compressed version of the Price Waterhouse Cooper study,” said Hunter. “It was very clear that (the facilitator) wasn’t taking any feedback or input and we were there to hear the presentation.
“We weren’t invited to provide input or feedback. They weren’t there for that purpose at all. They were there to give us information they would like to present. It was a presentation, not consultation.”
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General is hosting a number of what department officials have called “stakeholder engagement” meetings for municipal elected officials, including the Red Deer meeting on Jan. 7. The meetings are not open to the public or media.
Premier Jason Kenney says an Alberta provincial police force would be more accountable to residents and would not cost more than the existing system with the RCMP; critics say an APPS does not have the support of Albertans and the idea should be shelved.
Mountain View County Reeve Angela Aalbers also attended the Feb. 7 meeting.
“Transitioning to a new police model would be a lengthy process and could be costly to Albertans,” said Aalbers. “There are still many unknowns and we don’t have answers that would increase our confidence in the APPS.
“Council’s position remains in support of the RCMP and will only change if we get more tangible information or direction from our constituents. It is really up to the government to engage with all Albertans on this issue and we urge people to contact their MLA.
“This will mostly likely become a provincial election issue and Albertans will have their say at that time.”
The Alberta Municipalities (AM) association recently completed an examination of the PWC report and came back with a host of questions, including how the provincial government is going to “fund the $366 million of provincial police service one-time transition costs."
Dozens of Alberta municipalities have already sent Alberta Justice and Solicitor General letters expressing support for keeping the RCMP in Alberta.
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General says it will be conducting an online survey on the APPS issue, although a release date has not been set.
Mayor Hunter says town council may make a submission on the APPS proposal through that survey process.
