432-00534 (Public safety)

We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House to the following:

Whereas, Under Section 92 (14) of the Constitution, provinces have responsibility for law enforcement including policing. However, only three provinces, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador have provincial police forces.

Whereas, the Fair Deal Panel which consulted tens of thousands of Albertans found that many Albertans, especially rural Albertans, felt that the RCMP had become too bureaucratic and inflexible to the needs of small communities. The RCMP is often unable to adequately staff local communities. Rural crime in the prairie provinces was 36 to 42% higher than in urban areas. In 2017, the RCMP had a vacancy rate of 6.4% in Alberta, despite Alberta paying the full contract price.

Whereas, to combat this, in 2006, the Government of Alberta created the Alberta Sheriffs to help mitigate the lack of RCMP officers; however, rather than providing basic assistance as was their original function, they have formed the backbone of rural policing in most communities. In 2011, Alberta renewed its contract with the RCMP for 20 years until 2032. The contract contains a termination clause which allows either party to terminate the agreement with 24 months notice.

Whereas, an Alberta Police Service would enable local control over policing and improve employment conditions for personnel. Regional policing districts could pool resources to tackle crime depending on when and where criminals operate. This could happen without waiting for prior approval from Ottawa every time a new initiative is needed to tackle crime. This would also encourage Albertans to become police officers and to support their own local communities.

Whereas, a provincial police force would not stop the RCMP from continuing to provide Alberta with services befitting a national police service such as counter-terrorism, antimoney laundering, and organized crime units.

Whereas. Alberta had its own police service until 1932. The Fair Deal Panel recommends creating an Alberta Police Service to replace the RCMP.

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to make a public statement that should the Alberta government decide to terminate the community policing agreement with the RCMP as per the recommendation of the Fair Deal Panel there should be no penalty levied against the Province of Alberta from the Government of Canada and that the Government of Canada would support the transition towards a province-wide community police force as is Alberta's constitutional right.