Alberta Introduces Legislation to Create Provincial Police Force

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis stand together during the swearing in of her cabinet, in Edmonton on June 9, 2023. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

The Alberta government has introduced legislation to transform its sheriff service department into a provincial police force.

Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis did not announce a timetable for the transition if Bill 11 is passed by the legislature, but said the provincial force will be independent and subject to civilian oversight.

“In the clearest terms possible, this legislation does not create a provincial police service [to replace] the RCMP,” Mr. Ellis said at a March 13 press conference. “Our aim here is to bring the police-like functions that the Alberta sheriffs have taken on over time under the same kind of legislative framework and civilian oversight as Alberta’s police services.”

Sheriff service personnel have traditionally acted as peace officers, handling duties such as court security, but sheriffs have increasingly been tasked with handling fugitive apprehension and helping police keep order in downtown Edmonton and Calgary.

With the creation of the new force, sheriffs will receive additional training to become police officers, rather than peace officers, Mr. Ellis said.

He said the new force will work closely with existing municipal and First Nations police agencies as well as the RCMP.

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The creation of a provincial force is also a bid to ensure RCMP staffing issues do not impact policing services offered to communities. Mr. Ellis said there is no guarantee the RCMP won’t withdraw from local policing when their provincial contract expires in 2032.

“The RCMP just do not have enough human beings to police Canada, regardless of the amount of money that we give them, they’re having trouble from a hiring perspective,” Ellis said. “That’s a challenge, I get that. But I can’t wait for them to just continue to try to figure stuff out.”

“When somebody calls 911… I expect somebody to show up to that call,” he added. “And sadly, in certain areas, that has been a bit of a challenge.”

Alberta’s United Conservative government has been working for years on revamping policing to better respond to crime, particularly in Edmonton and Calgary city centres and rural areas.

Under former premier Jason Kenney and current Premier Danielle Smith, the UCP studied and long promoted replacing the RCMP with a province-wide police force.

However, the idea faced opposition—including from municipalities—over concerns on cost, implementation and staffing, while public opinion polls consistently suggested a majority of Albertans did not support a new province-wide force.

Electronic Monitoring

The news of a provincial police force coincided with the announcement that Alberta plans to introduce an electronic ankle-bracelet monitoring system.

Mr. Ellis said the electronic ankle bracelets will use GPS to monitor violent and sexual offenders as well as those on bail deemed a public safety risk. Judges will decide who needs to wear a monitor.

The province will invest more than $5 million into the monitoring system.

“Our federal justice system is not holding criminals accountable for their actions, and letting the public suffer the consequences,” he said. “Alberta’s government cannot sit idly by. Enough is enough.”

The ankle bracelets will offer 24-7 monitoring to ensure offenders adhere to bail conditions and avoid restricted areas such as victims’ homes.

The Canadian Press contributed to the report.