The UCP's plans to create a provincial police service instead of keeping the RCMP is being met with heavy backlash from more than 70 rural municipalities and the NDP.
NDP Justice Critic Irfan Sabir says rather than push an entirely new police service, the UCP should instead put their focus on crime prevention.
"Keep the RCMP, focus on crime, focus on addressing the root causes of crime, and work collaboratively with the municipalities, front line officers, and the organizations that have written to this minister (Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro) about issues facing rural communities," he said.
Regarding what the root causes of crime are, Sabir pointed specifically to increasing mental health supports, bringing back supervised consumption sites that the UCP dismantled, and creating affordable housing. Sabir says having a safe place for people to live and supporting mental health is a key aspect of addressing crime at its roots. He added you must listen to municipalities and front line officers about what they feel is needed.
"The thing is that this government isn't listening to anyone, they are not willing to work collaboratively with the municipalities and those on the front lines, who are in a better position to tell the government what they need to do to address the rising crime situation. That's not the approach the UCP is taking, the UCP wants to pursue Alberta's provincial police force no matter what. They are not listening to anyone. And I think the UCP should not be able to dismantle the RCMP while they are under investigation by the same organization."
The investigation Sabir is referring to is an RCMP probe into the 2017 leadership race, since there is potential fraud in relation to donations. The RCMP is investigating whether or not donations to Jeff Callaway went to Jason Kenney's team, which would be fraud.
While Sabir is fully against the provincial police, that doesn't mean he's against everything the UCP wants to do. For example, Shandro said he wants all rural detachments to have 10 officers for increased safety, as some detachments only have 3-5 officers. Sabir also believes in increasing police presence for safety, but you don't need an entirely new police service to do this.
"I think Minister Shandro can do that without blowing up the RCMP. There is nothing stopping this government, this minister, from deploying more officers in those detachments, because the budget is determined by the government in these communities, so the Minister can certainly do that without blowing up the RCMP."
On the topic of budgeting, Sabir added this would heavily increase costs on Albertans, as we would no longer receive Federal Government funding
"It's not a blueprint for a new police force, it's just a boondoggle that will cost Albertans hundreds of millions of dollars more in policing costs. The $200 million we get from the Federal Government, we won't get that. Then there is the $336 million in additional foundation costs, and then there are other costs that they may not have completely fleshed out."
"Before that, the UCP changed the police funding formula as well, that is already costing Alberta municipalities $70 million more per year in policing costs."
Ultimately, Sabir's biggest criticism lies in the idea that a new police service doesn't actually address what needs to be done to make Alberta better.
"This government needs to drop this terrible idea and focus on crimes and the root causes of crime, and the issues facing our communities. Affordability crisis, healthcare crisis, EMS crisis, there are so many things this government should be focusing their energy on."
"Should we become government in the next provincial election, we would not proceed with this plan."
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Fri, Apr 26, 4:30 PM
