Greetings! Sharing my News Update…
Alberta Provincial Police Service Transition Study update: Since the Fair deal panel and the Summer 2021 Justice Minister tour, we have been waiting on further information. Recently, the Province released their Transition Study report to assess the operational requirements, processes and costs of transitioning from the RCMP to an Alberta Provincial Police Service (APPS). Three documents can be found on the Alberta Government website: APPS Transition Study, a current state report and a future state report. Visit the following link to access the news release and these reports: www.alberta.ca/provincial-police-service-engagement.aspx
There’s a lot to take in on this topic. While there could be improvements on the policing side, the major input from engaged citizens has been a request for change to the revolving-door justice system side. Whether a new policing model would solve issues is something we have to decode, because there are many unanswered questions regarding the details of the evaluation:
- Would there be cost and service benefits due to removing the federal workload and obligations?
- Would a new configuration to 113 detachments and coordinated resources equal results after transition, such as more boots on the ground, improved relations and increased policing presence in the rural areas?
- Is the Federal Government moving to a new scope of RCMP services anyways, as reported to have been discussed within a June 2021 Commons committee, that may eventually require new provincial policing options?
- The APPS report consultants have concluded that the adjusted current policing model runs at $783 M, and proposed that the potential future models come in at $735M (Model A) or $759M (Model B), with additional start up costs at $366M.
- Will the promised engagement with communities provide more clarity, to help us understand these proposed models and identify further implications, including impacts on service levels, municipal and provincial costs, and local input into policing?
- Our Rural Municipalities of Alberta Association will be also be providing an analysis for our reference in the near future.
As the Justice Minister noted in his news release, the Provincial Government has not made any decisions on this, so we do look forward to participating in the upcoming engagement, where we can dive into detail. Look for announcements about taking part in these discussions, at the same web-link as previously included in the first paragraph of this article.
Just a reminder, as we head into this provincial policing dialogue… After a couple years of bringing light to rural crime concerns, the Alberta Government responded with making changes to the number of police officers, support staff and some justice system edits. Since 2020, Foothills County and all rural and small urban municipalities have been required by the Provincial Government to contribute 30% of the cost of policing from our municipal tax dollars. This contribution has been staged over four years and will amount to an increase of taxes of 3% by 2023, when the full payment of $2M per year comes into effect here in the County (with the total amount to be reviewed every five years). Along with the change in cost through municipal tax collection, Foothills County has also recently undergone changes on how the RCMP service is delivered. We are now served by the Foothills County Rural Policing Program, a unique configuration of the rural resources of three RCMP Detachment response areas that team up on serving us. Under this new system of organization in the rural area of Foothills County, we have seen improved communications and service level.
High Country Rural Crime Watch Association (HCRCWA) – Meeting Notice: You are invited to a meeting of the HCRCWA with guest Foothills County Rural Policing RCMP member. You will hear about crime trends and action being taken, by local and provincial prevention organizations, on behalf of citizens. The meeting date is Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Look for information to confirm all the details, which will be posted on the HCRCWA’s Facebook page or in your email, if you are a HCRCWA member. Or, you can contact me as well.
For Other News & Updates:
Website: suzanneoel.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CouncillorSuzanneOel/
Email: Suzanne.Oel@FoothillsCountyAB.ca
With Best Regards,
Suzanne
Suzanne Oel – Division 4
