By rdnewsNOW Staff

Policing

Province says Community Policing Grant applications now open

Sep 7, 2022 | 4:37 PM

Indigenous and municipal communities in Alberta can now apply for a one-time grant of up to $30,000 to develop a business case for their own self-administered police service or regional equivalent.

Government officials say the provincial grant offers financial assistance to Indigenous and municipal communities in preparing a business case outlining local needs, capital requirements and transition considerations.

The province says the Community Policing Grant formalizes funding the government has provided in the past and makes it more accessible to all Indigenous and municipal communities. Alberta’s government says it provided $30,000 to the Siksika Nation for a feasibility study in 2018 that has led to a memorandum of understanding focused on developing a funding framework for a new police service in Siksika.

According to officials, Alberta has also unilaterally provided additional funding for 15 new police officers for the Blood Tribe, Tsuut’ina Nation and Lakeshore Regional police services to address issues created by shortfalls in federal funding.

“Policing is better when leadership is provided locally, and First Nations in Alberta and across Canada deserve police services that are self-administered and responsive to their needs,” said Tyler Shandro, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, on Tuesday. “I am pleased federal Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino has committed to expediting his work on the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program so Alberta can move forward on ensuring police services in the province are responsive to local communities.”

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If Alberta moves to a provincial police service such as the proposed model found at futureofABpolicing.ca, the province says it would work with First Nations and municipalities to ensure local police services have more resources and give local Albertans more of a say in setting policing priorities.

The government says eligible First Nations communities, Metis Settlements and municipalities may use Community Policing Grant funding for business case expenses such as staffing, consultation fees and program administration. This includes communities that have already initiated the process of exploring a municipal police service and communities collaborating on a regional police service.

Applicants must provide a letter documenting the support of their communities’ leadership for the development of the business case.

*To find out more about the grant and how to apply, please email JSG.engagement@gov.ab.ca.