On November 19, USJE’s Regional Vice President Valda Behrens met with NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, David Shepherd (Shadow Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Services), and Rob Miyashiro (Shadow Minister for Municipal Affairs) to discuss the value in investing in more boots on the ground for the RCMP, instead of an unproven Provincial Police Force. RVP Behrens spoke clearly about the concerns USJE has in regard to public safety outcomes if there is a transition away from the RCMP in Alberta, in addition to the precarity faced by the nearly 800 public safety personnel employed by the RCMP and represented by USJE. It was acknowledged that Bill 4: The Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, introduced by Premier Smith’s government in 2025, provides no meaningful information on budget or implementation. Throughout the meeting, the NDP caucus asked engaging questions, giving RVP Behrens the opportunity to address both the concerns and complexities around removing the RCMP from Alberta.
Operational issues were raised as one of many risks of a transition. RVP Behrens noted there are real challenges in the sharing of records and the management of information systems that may not align and could potentially compromise the speed of investigations and continuity of service for Albertans. Additionally, significant infrastructure would likely have to be re-built from scratch, as well as the procurement of vehicles and buildings.
Staffing remains an unresolved question, especially when both RCMP and municipal police agencies already face serious recruitment challenges. The RCMP’s ability to draw personnel from across Canada, particularly noticeable during emergencies, is an advantage a provincial force would not have.
The group also discussed gaps in training between the RCMP and a Provincial Police Force. With Alberta sheriffs currently not receiving the same level of training as RCMP Uniformed officers, RVP Behrens emphasized that there is a risk of creating a two-tier policing system.
There is a major concern that a few weeks of additional training for Alberta Sheriffs is not sufficient, and the result would negatively impact all Albertans who depend on consistent, integrated police services. USJE emphasized the importance of keeping the RCMP in Alberta and continued investment to maintain a high level of service to communities across the province.
RVP Behrens highlighted the Albertans for RCMP website and the Serving Together campaign website as key resources, both highlighting the crucial work that USJE members do as the backbone of the RCMP, not just in Alberta but across Canada. Throughout the meeting, USJE was glad to hear the NDP recognizes and affirms that, in Alberta, communities are best served by the RCMP, and that the RCMP should remain the police service of choice in Alberta.
USJE would like to thank all the NDP MLAs, as well as Tony Jeglum (Outreach Officer), Ashley Lundstrom (Executive Assistant to the Leader), and Kirk Heuser (Press Secretary) for their time and attention during the meeting.