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By Josh Hall
fraud, id theft, and extortion

Red Deer-South MLA to lead new task force on cybercrime

Apr 15, 2026 | 4:53 PM

Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan has been pegged to lead a new task force.

Jason Stephan will serve as chair for the UCP government’s new Cybercrime Task Force.

In a release, the government explains that the task force will provide recommendations to address cybercrime, including fraud, identity theft and extortion carried out using technology.

“With growing uses of artificial intelligence, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this task force, working together to mitigate risks of cyber fraud, identity theft and extortion for the benefit of Albertans,” says Stephan.

The task force will also include experts in law, technology, consumer protection, and law enforcement, plus several ministries such as Justice, Public Safety and Emergency Services, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Technology and Innovation, and Intergovernmental and International Relations.

In addition to Stephan, the task force looks like this:

  • Jackie Lovely, MLA for Camrose
  • Peter Singh, MLA for Calgary-East
  • Mike Lalande, Staff Sergeant, Cybercrime Support Team, Calgary Police Service
  • Dayna Bulas, Detective, Financial Crimes Unit, Edmonton Police Service
  • Bret Napper, Constable, Economic Crimes Unit, Lethbridge Police Service
  • John Lamming, Sergeant, Provincial Financial Crime Team, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  • Simon Dwyer, Director, Government Affairs, Bell Canada
  • Marie-Eve Charron, Senior Director of Fraud, Investigations, Collections, Quebecor Inc. (Freedom Mobile)
  • Jad Barsoum, Vice President, Institutional Affairs, Quebecor Inc. (Freedom Mobile)
  • Courtney Cathcart, Director, Government Relations, Rogers Communications Inc.
  • Sangeeta Lalli, Public Policy Director, Agriculture & Consumer Goods, TELUS Communications Inc.
  • Jacqueline (Jacqui) Biggart, Director, Security, TELUS Communications Inc.
  • Ranbir Singh Parmar, Community Representative
  • Jagdeep Grewal, Community Representative
  • Jagdeep Gill, Community Representative
  • Julie Matthews, Consumer Protection Expert and Fraud Prevention Educator

More on the task force is at alberta.ca.

by Josh Hall