Dear USJE members:
The Union of Safety and Justice Employees has kept a close watch on Bill 49 which was introduced by Alberta’s Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis on April 7th in the Alberta Legislature.
This provincial Bill, entitled “Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025”, creates the framework for the establishment of a Provincial Police Force which would replace many of the policing functions of the RCMP in Alberta.
As you know, USJE shares the perspective of the majority of Albertans who believe that they are best served by the RCMP when it comes to public safety matters. The RCMP has a long history in the province and is a crucial police force serving a broad range of communities in the province. As such, the RCMP is deeply woven into the fabric of so many of Alberta’s towns, big and small.
The RCMP also greatly benefits from the expertise and experience of the over 800 public service employees who serve as the operational backbone of this policing force in the province. These employees are also connected to a larger network of policing professionals across the country. Since the beginning of discussions by the Government of Alberta to introduce a Provincial Police Force, USJE has been clear:
- the RCMP has been an essential part of Alberta’s policing landscape for over a century;
- most Albertans want to strengthen, not replace, the RCMP; and
- our members’ jobs are worth defending.
With this in mind, in the fall of 2022, USJE launched the “Albertans For RCMP” campaign which included USJE radio ads, mail-outs, op-eds and petitions. These actions led to the creation of USJE’s National RCMP Campaign, Serving Together, whereby USJE’s National President, David Neufeld, Regional Vice Presidents and our communications team visited RCMP work sites across the country to shine a spotlight on the exceptional work of USJE’s members employed by the RCMP. We must now reboot and accelerate that campaign in order to defend the RCMP and the jobs of all of our USJE members.
In the coming weeks, USJE will be urgently seeking meetings with Alberta’s Public Safety Minister and other relevant elected officials to express our serious concerns about the Government’s proposed next steps. I can assure you that USJE will do everything within our power to protect your jobs. In this regard, we will very much welcome your support.
We would really appreciate it if you would take the time to support this campaign by spreading the word with your friends and family, and sending a note to your elected official if you are comfortable doing so.
Thank you for all of your work on behalf of the RCMP and Albertans. Your contributions have been and continue to be invaluable.
In solidarity,
David Neufeld
National President