INNISFAIL – Municipal council members have been given a bleak overview by Mayor Jean Barclay on the province’s current engagement process for a proposed Alberta Provincial Police Service following the recent government release of a plan that targets the end of the RCMP’s provincial policing contract.
At Innisfail council’s regular meeting on Aug. 22 Barclay told members that earlier the same day she attended an Alberta police service webinar; a discussion which she said left her feeling “very disappointed".
“There were three gentlemen on there (panel), none of them from Alberta, which was interesting,” said the mayor. “They didn't talk at all about rural crime and indigenous communities.
“It was all kind of what's wrong with the RCMP. It was around how the province doesn't get to set our policing priorities, which we've heard the exact opposite. We know in our community we can just select policing priorities. We work collaboratively with the RCMP.”
Barclay’s comments followed an in-depth update from Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, on the year-long provincial policing initiative, which has drawn intense widespread municipal criticism, including the province’s Aug. 16th release of its proposed deployment model.
“I would say from what I heard on the panel this morning it’s us versus Ottawa and the rest of it doesn't make a lot of sense,” said Barclay. “So, it's probably going to get a lot of attention over the next while, especially going into an election year, because I'm sure it will be an election issue.
“But I was very disappointed in what I heard this morning, and the kind of the rhetoric and the mindset that was there,” she added. “And you're talking about provincial policing but you don't have one person from Alberta on that panel.”
In response to Barclay’s comments, Coun. Jason Heistad said now is the time for the Town of Innisfail to “get political” on the provincial policing plan, noting the cost to transition policing from the RCMP to the province will be “well over” $300 million; a cost that will be ongoing for small communities.
“This is only going to ramp up. Council has to push back if this is the route we want to go,” he said. “We may as well be upfront with the government and say, ‘you know, this is where we're at.’ This has been ongoing for almost a year. I think we crank it up.”
However, Barclay countered by saying the pressure now needs to come from a “larger” body like Alberta Municipalities.
“And it needs to come from rural municipalities because they represent all of us and we need to advocate all together,” said Barclay. “I think this fall at the convention in Calgary this will certainly be a big talk topic of discussion.”
As for Becker’s update to council on the proposed provincial policing deployment model, his report included key points from the Aug. 16 release:
• Proposed model will include 65 to 85 community detachments with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 80 officers.
• Local detachments will remain open with smaller detachments experiencing an increase in the number of their police officers compared to the current model.
• A network of 20 to 30 service hub detachments, with staffing ranging from 48 to 192 police officers, would serve larger municipalities and provide support
to nearby community detachments when needed, including mental health response.
“What they're looking at is a fit for Alberta leasing approach, whereas a deployment model that recognizes local differences observed across regions and Alberta; not just as a province as a whole, such as varying demographics, types of crime and public safety needs,” Becker told council.
He told council the province is required to give the RCMP and federal government a two-year termination notice. Becker said transition costs over the six-year period is estimated at $366 million, with $241 million going to operating costs and $125 million towards capital.
Council approved Becker’s report as information.
Barclay concluded by telling council she and Becker, along with mayors from Bowden and Caroline, are meeting this week with provincial Justice Minister Tyler Shandro.
