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October 29, 2021

-Western Standard

 

Getting rid of the RCMP and bringing in its own provincial police force would cost hundreds of millions of dollars but ultimately would prove to be more cost-effective, says a new independent report done for the UCP government.

At the moment it costs $500 million a year to run the RCMP in Alberta with the feds chipping in $170 million, said the PricewaterhouseCoopers report.

If Alberta decided to go it alone, it would cost about $735 million each year on top of $366 million in startup costs, said the report.

PricewaterhouseCoopers said their plan would actually see more boots on the ground in the province.

“This independent report makes a compelling case for creating a police service that’s designed by Albertans, for Albertans. Alberta’s government is committed to the safety and security of all Albertans, no matter where they live. A much stronger model of community policing, with closer integration of social services and the involvement of Indigenous people in governance, holds real potential for improving policing in Alberta,” said Premier Jason Kenney in a statement.

Kenney said the next step would be holding consultations with the people of Alberta.

“During my rural crime tour this summer, rural Albertans made it clear that they are deeply concerned about crime in their communities. PwC Canada has developed a policing model that could address long-standing concerns about response times in rural areas and put more boots on the ground. We’re eager to share these innovative and thought-provoking ideas with stakeholders and hear their thoughts over the coming months,” said Justice Minister Kaycee Madu.

The UCP ordered up the study last year after the Fair Deal panel recommended setting up a provincial police force.

“PwC Canada’s report released October 29, explores the operational needs, processes and potential transition costs and puts forward a provincial model that would put more front-line personnel in communities across Alberta at a total cost equal to, or lower than, the total cost of the RCMP contract policing model used in Alberta,” said the government.

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