On July 6, the Union of Safety and Justice Employees (USJE) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada – Prairie Region (PSAC) actively participated in the signature Calgary Stampede event convened by Equal Voice, an organization committed to increasing women’s representation in Canadian government at all levels.
As a proud sponsor, USJE-PSAC aimed to shed light on both the importance of gender diversity in politics and the pressing concerns facing public safety personnel in Alberta.
During this event, USJE-PSAC representatives had the valuable opportunity to engage with numerous elected officials from Alberta and beyond, including members of the provincial government and Official Opposition, as well as Christy Clark, former Premier of British Columbia, to communicate the challenges faced by their members.
Specifically, over 800 USJE-PSAC members serve as federal public safety employees within the RCMP in Alberta. Many of these personnel are uncertain about their futures due to proposed changes in the province’s policing framework, including the recent legislative steps towards establishing a provincial police force that could replace the RCMP in many communities.
The delegation comprised five USJE-PSAC representatives, including National President David Neufeld; Regional Vice Presidents Valda Behrens, Zef Ordman; PSAC Regional Executive Vice President, Prairie Region Marianne Hladun; and Krysty Thomas, PSAC Alternate Regional Executive Vice President, Prairie Region.
Throughout the event, they emphasized USJE-PSAC’s role in advocating for public safety personnel, not only in Alberta but across Canada.
USJE-PSAC’s discussions with Premier Danielle Smith, cabinet ministers, and members of the Official Opposition resulted in invitations for these elected officials to meet with USJE’s leaders so they can better understand the realities for USJE’s operational personnel who live in Alberta and work with the RCMP.
USJE-PSAC firmly believes that investing in the RCMP remains the most effective approach to achieving Alberta’s goal of responsive and efficient policing. The establishment of a new, parallel police force could undermine the longstanding role of the RCMP’s uniformed members and diminish the contributions of over 800 seasoned federal public safety personnel.
These dedicated individuals, who are parents, grandparents, community volunteers, and faith members, have legitimate concerns regarding their future amidst the uncertainty surrounding the potential transition away from the RCMP.
The lack of clarity about the transition process and the potential upheaval poses several risks, including the possibility that some safety personnel may pre-emptively seek employment outside of the policing sector, or elsewhere in Canada in light of legitimate concerns about job losses or changes in roles, exacerbating the staffing challenges for public safety organizations in Alberta.
USJE-PSAC are deeply concerned about the potential loss of expertise that has been developed over decades among existing federal public safety personnel. We believe that it is imperative to strengthen the investments in the RCMP to ensure effective policing and community safety.
USJE-PSACs presence at the Equal Voice Calgary Stampede event was a significant step toward fostering dialogue with Alberta’s policymakers. We look forward to ongoing conversations with MLAs and government officials in the coming months, advocating for policies that support public safety personnel and the communities they serve.