Alberta is introducing new laws that it says would create a brand new, impartial police power.
Minister of Public Security Mike Ellis says this isn’t a substitute for the RCMP.
“I believe it is vitally necessary to state instantly that within the clearest phrases potential — that this laws doesn’t create a provincial police service in [replacement] of the RCMP,” he stated. “Our purpose right here is to convey the police-like capabilities that the Alberta Sheriffs have taken on over time below the identical form of legislative framework and civilian oversight as Alberta’s police companies.”
Alberta has steered the opportunity of a provincial police power quite a few instances over time, most just lately within the fall of 2022. However, almost a yr later, it appeared to dump the concept.
The proposal confronted opposition from municipalities notably over considerations on price, implementation, and staffing. The union representing members of the RCMP was additionally staunchly opposed.
The brand new laws would change present legislation to create a brand new group the federal government says would work alongside police companies throughout the province just like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), municipal police forces, and First Nations police companies.
Officers within the new power would carry out police-like capabilities which might be at the moment carried out by the Alberta Sheriffs.
The province stated Wednesday these modifications would enhance the federal government’s capacity to answer requests by communities for extra legislation enforcement.
The brand new police company could be impartial from the federal government.
These new additions would construct on work beforehand accomplished to increase the position of Alberta Sheriffs to extend public security, the province says.
Expanded duties of sheriffs within the province embrace fugitive apprehension, surveillance and Rural Alberta Provincial Built-in Defence (RAPID) Response, which — starting in July 2021 — gave the Sheriff Freeway Patrol the authority to research impaired driving and different legal offences.
Sheriffs have been additionally deployed by the province to inside metropolis Calgary and downtown Edmonton final yr to assist curb social dysfunction and crime.
It provides the brand new company would observe finest practices, together with being topic to a civilian oversight board to extend public confidence and accountability.
