Confusion, questions surround new Alberta policing committee obligations

CBC

01-03-2025

New rules requiring Alberta municipalities to form or join policing committees that oversee RCMP operations are now in effect, but some communities have yet to form them and still have questions about how they will work.
The provincial government passed the Police Amendment Act in 2022 and created new regulations for civilian governance bodies.
Under the new rules, which came into effect Saturday, RCMP-policed communities with populations of more than 15,000 must form municipal policing committees, which would represent local concerns to RCMP leadership.
Mid-size communities — those with populations between 5,000 and 15,000 — join one of four regional committees, which are aligned with the RCMP's eastern, western, central and southern districts. Small communities with less than 5,000 people are represented by a provincial advisory board.
Mike Ellis, the minister of public safety and emergency services, has said these new governance bodies give Albertans more say in how the RCMP police their communities. However, multiple mayors and municipal leaders say there are unanswered questions about committee formation, responsibilities and benefits.
"There's a little bit of confusion now about where a municipality might lie, what the roles and responsibilities are and how they go about setting that up," said Tyler Gandam, Alberta Municipalities president and mayor of Wetaskiwin.
"I think even the province is well aware of this March 1 deadline being kind of a moving target."
To join or not to join
Some larger cities, like Airdrie, Red Deer and Leduc, have already passed bylaws establishing municipal policing committees.
Leduc's mayor, Bob Young, said applications are open for its committee, which will be up and running by the end of the month. A council member, city administrator and RCMP officer will recommend candidates to council, he said.
Some mid-size municipalities are struggling to decide whether to join or opt out of regional committees.
Opting out requires ministerial approval, and the community must either establish its own municipal policing committee or join one with another municipality.
Redcliff, a southern Alberta town northwest of Medicine Hat, plans to create its own committee but it won't meet the March 1 deadline.
Mayor Dwight Kilpatrick said southern Alberta is fairly widespread and the town's nearest mid-size neighbours appeared to also want their own policing committees, he said.
"The regional idea didn't look like it was going to work," he said.
Peace River, on the other hand, has decided to join a regional committee for now but may strike out on its own in the future.
Mayor Elaine Manzer said council wants to ensure the regional group pays attention to Peace River's unique characteristics, like its northern location and provincial correctional centre.
She said council members don't yet know how much influence the town will have in regional committee meetings.
"Like others, we've got many questions as to what these committees are really supposed to do," she said.
Communities with municipal and regional policing committees must pay the costs of running them — a concern and unknown quantity for some councils.
Young said he expects the committee costs will be minimal; Kilpatrick said he's concerned about any costs associated with a provincially appointed committee member. The minister may appoint people to both municipal and regional policing committees.
Arthur Green, press secretary for Public Safety and Emergency Services, said the government recognizes some communities need more time to determine the best approach and pass necessary bylaws.
Green said 25 to 35 municipal policing committees are expected to be formed. Once municipalities finish appointing people, the minister may appoint others "to ensure balanced representation and expertise."
"Ultimately, this new system strengthens public safety by making policing more responsive to local needs and ensuring that all communities — regardless of size or location — have a say in law enforcement priorities," he said in an emailed statement.
Concerns over board
Small and rural communities, which will be represented by the new provincial police advisory board, won't have to pay for its operating costs.
Rural Municipalities of Alberta president Kara Westerlund said the association is concerned about how a 15-person board will adequately represent more than 300 communities.
"I don't have a crystal ball, but I'm going to tell you there is obviously going to be some extreme difficulties making sure that voices ... are heard all the way up," she said.
She said RMA has a seat on the board, as does Alberta Municipalities, but municipalities are worried about who the other appointees will be and how they were chosen.
Green said the government is balancing expertise, lived experiences and regional representation in making the appointments and the full list of board members will be announced once all positions are confirmed.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said the organization has a well-established framework for developing policing priorities and the service is happy to include policing committees in it.