Alberta, RCMP union clash over police funding and future of provincial policing

A political firestorm is brewing over the future of policing in Alberta, as provincial officials and the National Police Federation (NPF) clash over the proposed creation of a new provincial police force.

In a statement Thursday, Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis defended the province's current stance on policing, citing nearly 20% vacancy rates in RCMP positions across Alberta.

“The province is currently paying $16 million for unfilled RCMP positions,” Ellis said. “If your service provider stiffs you $16 million and asks for more money to deliver what was initially promised — that’s a breach of contract in my opinion.”

Ellis said Alberta’s rural communities are being put at risk by the vacancies and argued the province should not spend more money before ensuring that contracted officers are in place.

He also pointed to growing financial pressure on municipalities, which could see their share of police funding rise by as much as 50% due to the RCMP’s recent wage negotiations.

“This is not about the good men and women of the RCMP working tirelessly in our community,” Ellis said. “They are doing the best they can — but they are being stretched thin because of these vacancies. This is the result of mismanagement from unions in Ottawa and the federal government not making rural public safety a priority.”

The statement comes as the Alberta government introduces Bill 49, which lays the groundwork for the Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS), a proposed alternative to the RCMP. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the National Police Federation, the largest police union in Canada.

“We are deeply concerned that the Government of Alberta is once again pushing forward with a costly, unproven provincial police model, this time under a new name, without transparency, consultation, or a clear financial plan,” said Brian Sauvé, President and CEO of the NPF.

Sauvé accused the province of ignoring public opinion and fiscal responsibility by pursuing the IAPS. He cited previous estimates pegging the failed Alberta provincial police service at $372 million in start-up costs, with $164 million in annual operating costs — figures from 2021, before inflation and rising expenses.

“Rather than spending in the nearly 3,500 RCMP members who provide effective and committed police services across 99% of Alberta, the province is choosing to funnel precious taxpayer dollars into the new Independent Agency Police Service,” Sauvé said.

The NPF also warned of steep costs associated with transitioning to a provincial model, including nearly $30 million in salary upgrades, $5.4 million in training, $7.8 million for uniforms and equipment, and up to $32 million in infrastructure upgrades — on top of significant expenses for technology, legal services, and specialized equipment.

“The lack of information about the IAPS indicates how expensive it will be for Albertans,” Sauvé said, adding that it remains unclear whether these costs would be borne by the province or downloaded onto municipalities.

Citing a June 2024 poll from Pollara Strategic Insights, Sauvé said 77% of Albertans in RCMP-served communities are satisfied with their current policing, and 86% want to keep the RCMP. A further 87% want a full accounting of costs before any transition takes place.

“Every dollar spent on restructuring is a dollar taken from frontline services like crime prevention, enforcement, and victim support,” said Sauvé. “It’s time the government listened to Albertans and invested in enhancing—not replacing — the Alberta RCMP.”