The union representing Canada’s RCMP officers has started a petition to try and stop Alberta from forming its own provincial police force independent of Ottawa’s..The setting up of its own force was one of the recommendations of the Fair Deal panel, with the Alberta government hiring a consulting firm in October to report back on the issue..PwC Canada will provide the government with an independent assessment of a possible transition to an Alberta provincial police service. The budget for the process is $2 million with PwC expected to finish their report by April 30..But the National Police Federation – which represents 20,000 police officer including the RCMP – want nothing to do with that and have started a website to try and raise support..“If we switch to a provincial police service, Alberta taxpayers will be on the hook for an additional $112 million, currently funded by the federal government, as well as significant transition costs. The result will be a more expensive and less effective police force,” the federation said in an open letter to Alberta MLAs.. Screen-Shot-2021-01-22-at-9.36.27-AMNPF Graphic .“Further, recent polls show that the vast majority of Albertans are satisfied with the police services they receive, and that they are opposed to replacing the RCMP.”.“Please don’t put our community safety or economy at risk. Let’s keep the RCMP in Alberta, and work to improve police services.”.The NPF claims if Alberta does move ahead, taxpayers will be paying “millions more for less service.”. Mossleigh pub briefly opens before authorities move in .The campaign website does not include any studies that show that a provincial police force would cost more or put people at risk, but does note that Red Deer recently rejected the idea of a municipal police service after a KPMG study found a transition away from the RCMP would cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and take over four years to complete..The campaign made no mention of the Calgary, Edmonton or other municipal police forces currently in Alberta..“At a time when Alberta’s economy is facing significant challenges due to the impacts of COVID-19 and uncertain natural resource markets, now is not the time to proceed with unnecessary and costly changes to our policing model,” the NPF said..But Cypress-Medicine Hat UCP MLA Drew Barnes has said the $2-million student is a waste of time and called for the provincial force to be started immediately..“Eighty per cent of Albertans told the Fair Deal hearings they want more autonomy from Ottawa,” said Barnes, who was a member of the panel..“Rural crime, the amount of the crime and the severity is skyrocketing. It’s time to do it,” Barnes said in an interview with the Western Standard..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
The union representing Canada’s RCMP officers has started a petition to try and stop Alberta from forming its own provincial police force independent of Ottawa’s..The setting up of its own force was one of the recommendations of the Fair Deal panel, with the Alberta government hiring a consulting firm in October to report back on the issue..PwC Canada will provide the government with an independent assessment of a possible transition to an Alberta provincial police service. The budget for the process is $2 million with PwC expected to finish their report by April 30..But the National Police Federation – which represents 20,000 police officer including the RCMP – want nothing to do with that and have started a website to try and raise support..“If we switch to a provincial police service, Alberta taxpayers will be on the hook for an additional $112 million, currently funded by the federal government, as well as significant transition costs. The result will be a more expensive and less effective police force,” the federation said in an open letter to Alberta MLAs.. Screen-Shot-2021-01-22-at-9.36.27-AMNPF Graphic .“Further, recent polls show that the vast majority of Albertans are satisfied with the police services they receive, and that they are opposed to replacing the RCMP.”.“Please don’t put our community safety or economy at risk. Let’s keep the RCMP in Alberta, and work to improve police services.”.The NPF claims if Alberta does move ahead, taxpayers will be paying “millions more for less service.”. Mossleigh pub briefly opens before authorities move in .The campaign website does not include any studies that show that a provincial police force would cost more or put people at risk, but does note that Red Deer recently rejected the idea of a municipal police service after a KPMG study found a transition away from the RCMP would cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and take over four years to complete..The campaign made no mention of the Calgary, Edmonton or other municipal police forces currently in Alberta..“At a time when Alberta’s economy is facing significant challenges due to the impacts of COVID-19 and uncertain natural resource markets, now is not the time to proceed with unnecessary and costly changes to our policing model,” the NPF said..But Cypress-Medicine Hat UCP MLA Drew Barnes has said the $2-million student is a waste of time and called for the provincial force to be started immediately..“Eighty per cent of Albertans told the Fair Deal hearings they want more autonomy from Ottawa,” said Barnes, who was a member of the panel..“Rural crime, the amount of the crime and the severity is skyrocketing. It’s time to do it,” Barnes said in an interview with the Western Standard..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
