Alberta Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis wasn’t wearing a Stetson in the legislature on Thursday, but he was wielding a metaphorical six-gun armed with rounds of anger, assertiveness, impatience, determination, preparation, and volume.
Ellis and the UCP came under fire from the NDP during question period over Bill 49. The opposition seemed triggered by the bill as it involves a conversation about law enforcement.
Alberta Bill 49, introduced on April 7 by Ellis, proposes creating a new independent police agency under a Crown corporation, allowing municipalities to opt for this service instead of the RCMP, which remains the official provincial police force.
The backdrop for the bill is a growing debate in Alberta about sovereignty and pushing back against federal overreach. The bill also includes protection for personal freedom when emergency powers are used in times of crisis.
Debate stems from several concerns — the bill shifts approximately 600 Alberta Sheriffs into this new entity, prompting pushback from the Alberta Sheriffs Branch Officers Association over an alleged lack of consultation and unclear roles.
Critics, including the NDP, argue it’s a backdoor move to replace the RCMP despite public support for retaining it. Ellis says rural residents deserve a response when calling 911 — it’s about options.
Municipal leaders are divided, with some welcoming additional policing options and others worried about costs, transparency, and resource allocation, especially given RCMP staffing shortages. The province claims it addresses local safety needs, but opponents see it as costly and politically motivated, lacking clear funding and implementation details.
Regardless of right or wrong, Ellis wasn’t taking flak from the NDP on Thursday — he fired back with hard-hitting verbal rounds. During second reading of the bill, he said there are “horror stories” happening in rural Alberta over policing.
Ellis shared a conversation with an Indigenous leader over crime and inadequate RCMP response.
“I spoke to the chief of the Woodland Cree Nation,” said Ellis. “I get no service” — said the chief.
“So, then he sits there and tells me that because of Bill C-75 violent repeat criminal offenders are causing havoc within communities all throughout Canada, but especially among First Nations."
"He (the chief) sits there and says, we have somebody who is a violent repeat criminal offender who is wreaking havoc in our community. I said, did you call the police? I did (said the chief). And you know what they said, we don’t have anybody to send."
"Shameful," said Ellis in anger.
"I said (to the chief) well then, what did you do? He said, minister, we had to hire mercenaries."
"In this province, mercenaries were hired by First Nations people because of the failure of the RCMP, because of the failure of Ottawa.”