Photo Courtesy EverythingGP Staff

By Tanner Smith

Municipal Police Force

Alberta government is funding $9.7 million to support the proposed ‘Municipal Police Force’

Feb 22, 2023 | 6:19 PM

Grande Prairie MLA and Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, and Mayor Jackie Clayton were all at the Montrose Cultural Centre today to announce funding of $9.7 million over two years to the city, to help fund the proposed transition to a municipal police force.

Council still has to vote on whether this is going to be something the City commits to after pushing back the decision from their last council meeting to the next scheduled City Council meeting on March 6.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says this initial funding has given council confidence that if it does go through with the municipal police force, the government is willing to step in and help support the city moving forward, potentially in the form of more funding.

She adds this would only provide more comfort to residents, as worries over paying for the remaining $10 million of the transition through taxes has grown across the public.

“So the initial intent with lobbying the government was always to reduce tax impact to the local ratepayers, lobbying the government for these transition funds with the goal of not having an impact on ratepayers, So with this $9.7 million announcement we know that the first three years, we are covered during the transition if council decides to fund a municipal police force,” said Clayton.

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She added that even with this funding it still won’t influence council decision regarding the transition, but it does make her feel that a safer community is obtainable, with or without RCMP, as the provincial government is showing its commitment, to keep Albertans safe.

“I think council will have a conversation in regards to what the five-year transition will look like if we choose to do so, and at that time we will explore opportunities, but we are very optimistic that the province has indicated today (that) they are behind a safer Alberta and a safer City of Grande Prairie,.They are behind a service model that is more efficient and they are supporting it by showing the $9.7 million today.”

Minister Ellis discussed the repercussions saying he’s received “several calls” from municipalities asking about a municipal police force, while also hearing more questions from communities regarding an Alberta police force.

Clayton said she has received some calls from other municipal mayors, as she sits on the Mid-Sized Cities Mayor Caucus, but adds other municipalities and the provincial government’s decision on an Alberta force won’t affect City Council’s decision.

“We took the foresight and the initiative to undergo a service review. The Alberta policing conversation is part of it, however, that’s not the main reason we did this. At the end of the day, council sees a priority of a safe community, and with this support, we now know we have the options available to us.”

She adds receiving this funding for the proposed municipal police force grows the council’s confidence in having a safe community at a low cost for residents.

Toews will present the new provincial budget in the legislature on Tuesday. Budget 2023 will include this $9.7 million in funding.

Toews says “Albertans should expect to see a deep commitment to public safety.”

For more information regarding the proposed Municipal Police Force: click here.

Photo Courtesy EverythingGP Staff