Mayor Gondek Calls for Adequate Funding of Existing Municipal Police Forces Amid Provincial Police Agency Plans On Monday, the Alberta Government revealed its plans to establish a new provincial police agency for municipal use.
images - 2025-04-10T051953.834.jpeg
Calgary's mayor is questioning the province's funding sources for this proposed provincial police force, highlighting concerns about depriving local police services of essential support. The announcement coincided with the introduction of Bill 49, the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Act, 2025. This legislation aims to form a new independent police service to undertake duties currently assigned to Alberta Sheriffs. This move builds on changes made in 2024 to the province's public safety framework, which included the proposal for a provincial police service.
Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis stated, "With this bill, we are taking the essential steps to meet the unique public safety needs of communities throughout Alberta. As we work toward establishing an independent police agency, we are laying the groundwork for Alberta's law enforcement framework for years to come." Ellis emphasized the agency's goal: to enhance public safety and provide Albertans with reliable service when needed. The new service is expected to operate independently from the government, with officers employed by the police service itself, unlike the current setup with Alberta Sheriffs.
download - 2025-04-09T061446.341.jpeg
According to a provincial announcement, future amendments may enable municipalities to select this new law enforcement agency once it becomes fully operational and established standards are in place. "The Alberta government is dedicated to ensuring this new agency collaborates effectively with all police forces to address the province's changing public safety requirements and improve law enforcement response times, especially in rural areas," the announcement stated. While the RCMP will remain the official provincial police service, municipalities will have an additional option for local policing. Training durations vary, with Alberta Sheriffs receiving 15 weeks, RCMP 26 weeks, and Calgary Police Service applicants undergoing up to nine months of training.
Currently, Calgary Transit Peace Officers are trained for 24 weeks. The training requirements for the new provincial police officers remain unclear. Concerns Over Decreased Funding for Calgary Police Over the past five years, provincial changes have siphoned millions from the Calgary Police Service's budget, compelling the City of Calgary to absorb these financial shortfalls. Recently, Calgary's city council allocated $28 million from the fiscal stability reserve to address a projected deficit stemming from newly implemented provincial photo radar regulations. This financial setback jeopardized numerous front-line positions within the Calgary Police Service. These budgetary pressures trace back to 2019, when the province increased its share of fine revenues, resulting in a $13 million deficit for local police. On Tuesday, Mayor Jyoti Gondek expressed doubt regarding the province's ability to finance the new provincial police force, stating, "I'm not certain where they'll find the funds for this, considering they can't seem to fulfill their financial responsibilities to our local police service." She emphasized the need for clarity on how the new service will function and be funded, expressing concern that the provincial government continues to pursue something that over two-thirds of Albertans oppose. When asked if the city should consider the policing services of a provincial unit, she referred to a previous evaluation of Alberta Sheriffs' collaboration with CPS in 2023. A subsequent report revealed that, despite the high visibility of the combined units, there was little to no impact on public safety.
Mayor Gondek reiterated that the CPS is responsible for public safety in Calgary and deserves adequate funding. "If we want effective public safety measures and a robust police force, we should be investing in the one already in place.
Instead, funding is being redirected away from the Calgary Police Service," she remarked. "Now we have this announcement for a provincial police service, and I'm very interested in understanding how money taken from our city is now being funneled into something that 67 percent of people don't even want."
Edited:Bosman