A new survey conducted on behalf of Alberta Municipalities has found that many Albertans are opposed to the idea of replacing the RCMP with a provincial police service. (File photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Survey finds many Albertans not in favour of provincial police service

Feb 17, 2023 | 11:34 AM

EDMONTON, AB – A new survey has found that many Albertans are opposed to the idea of replacing the RCMP with a new provincial police service.

A poll was conducted by Calgary-based Janet Brown for Alberta Municipalities. The results showed that 85 per cent of respondents said if the Government of Alberta decided to replace the RCMP with a provincial police service, the matter needed to be put to a provincial vote.

Meanwhile, 66 per cent of people surveyed believed that the provincial government should use resources on community service supports to help marginalized and struggling Albertans, as opposed to using resources on instituting a provincial police service.

President of Alberta Municipalities Cathy Heron said in a news release that the survey results paint a clear picture.

She stated, “Albertans are simply not interested in a discussion or review of community policing in Alberta that is based on political aims or recommendations from the 2020 Fair Deal Panel Report.”

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Heron added, “Municipalities are interested in discussing the delivery of community policing with the primary goal of enhancing public safety.”

Alberta Municipalities issued a call for a province-wide Public Safety Task Force led by the provincial government in September 2022. The organization said a task force is needed to explore and address the root causes of crime and weaknesses in the current justice system in Alberta.

READ MORE: Municipalities say province ignoring concerns about provincial police

Alberta Municipalities is an organization comprised of villages, cities, towns, and specialized municipalities across the province. Results of the survey are available online.

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