The Alberta RCMP has issued corrections following remarks made by Premier Danielle Smith at the Alberta Municipalities Convention in Red Deer, clarifying details about the current state of RCMP staffing and vacancy rates. The premier’s comments, according to the RCMP, inaccurately reflected the number of officers and vacancies within the provincial policing force.During her address, Smith discussed the state of the Alberta RCMP, but some of her statements were misinformed, the agency said. The RCMP clarified that the vacancy rate within the provincial policing contract is 17.3%, equating to 306 unfilled positions out of a total of 1,772 police officer roles.Of these, 124 positions remain unfilled, while the remaining 182 are officers on leave due to illness, maternity-related reasons, or other special circumstances. These figures, according to the RCMP, are communicated to the province on a monthly basis."We recognize that vacancy rates, recruiting, and retention are substantial concerns for citizens," the RCMP said in the release. However, they emphasized that the challenges they face are not unique to Alberta, as police services across the province are struggling with hiring.In response to staffing shortages, the Alberta RCMP has launched a significant recruitment drive. To date, over 1,400 applicants from Alberta have applied, with expectations to double that number by the end of the year. The campaign has also seen a 77% increase in applicants over the past five years, including a record number of diverse candidates."Recruiting can’t be the only solution we focus on," the RCMP acknowledged. They are continually evaluating their service delivery models to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, in consultation with the communities they serve.Deputy Commissioner Rob Hill, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP, reaffirmed the force’s dedication to Albertans. "The employees of the Alberta RCMP are fiercely proud of the policing services they provide," he said. "We are here to serve and protect Albertans, and we will continue to do so with dedication and integrity."
The Alberta RCMP has issued corrections following remarks made by Premier Danielle Smith at the Alberta Municipalities Convention in Red Deer, clarifying details about the current state of RCMP staffing and vacancy rates. The premier’s comments, according to the RCMP, inaccurately reflected the number of officers and vacancies within the provincial policing force.During her address, Smith discussed the state of the Alberta RCMP, but some of her statements were misinformed, the agency said. The RCMP clarified that the vacancy rate within the provincial policing contract is 17.3%, equating to 306 unfilled positions out of a total of 1,772 police officer roles.Of these, 124 positions remain unfilled, while the remaining 182 are officers on leave due to illness, maternity-related reasons, or other special circumstances. These figures, according to the RCMP, are communicated to the province on a monthly basis."We recognize that vacancy rates, recruiting, and retention are substantial concerns for citizens," the RCMP said in the release. However, they emphasized that the challenges they face are not unique to Alberta, as police services across the province are struggling with hiring.In response to staffing shortages, the Alberta RCMP has launched a significant recruitment drive. To date, over 1,400 applicants from Alberta have applied, with expectations to double that number by the end of the year. The campaign has also seen a 77% increase in applicants over the past five years, including a record number of diverse candidates."Recruiting can’t be the only solution we focus on," the RCMP acknowledged. They are continually evaluating their service delivery models to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, in consultation with the communities they serve.Deputy Commissioner Rob Hill, Commanding Officer of the Alberta RCMP, reaffirmed the force’s dedication to Albertans. "The employees of the Alberta RCMP are fiercely proud of the policing services they provide," he said. "We are here to serve and protect Albertans, and we will continue to do so with dedication and integrity."
