THE CONTEXT
Under the RCMP contract, municipal and provincial governments have limits in how they can advocate for changes on a community level. Room for improvement includes:
Modernizing Civilian Oversight and Governance Structure
The RCMP operates under federal legislation, regulations, and policy. That limits provincial or community oversight or governance.
Updated Recruitment and Detachment Staffing
Recruiting, staffing, and transfers are national decisions. RCMP members and their families who want to stay in Alberta may not be able to. Transferring in and out of Alberta disrupts relationships between members, families, and the communities where they feel at home.
Localized Training
All RCMP officers are currently trained in Saskatchewan to a national standard that enables the federal government to transfer members across Canada. We believe that there is an opportunity to train police officers right here at home. This would lead to better recruitment and retention and ensure that Alberta’s new recruits are provided with training that suits the distinct needs of our province.
Improved Capacity for Forensic Laboratory Processing
The national forensic lab system prioritizes only the most serious criminal evidence from across Canada and only rarely processes evidence for offences such as property crime. Alberta needs its own forensic laboratory system so that all forensic evidence is processed.
Representation in Cost Negotiations
The federal government unilaterally signed a multi-year collective agreement that resulted in dramatic increases to costs for municipalities. While Alberta’s government supports efforts to fairly compensate RCMP officers, the provincial government and municipalities that contract with the RCMP were not allowed to participate at the negotiating table. Alberta needs a model that puts Albertans in control of critical decisions about policing in the province. Learn more here.
