73 towns, villages, counties, unions call on UCP to stop provincial police effort
A public demand that Alberta stick with the RCMP has been signed by 32 towns, 22 villages, seven organizations, six counties, three summer villages, two other municipalities and The City of Wetaskiwin.
It comes just days after a United Conservative Party leadership debate, where not one of the candidates running for the premier's job said they'd stop the provincial police effort.
The letter, spearheaded by the National Police Federation, states that an Alberta force will cost taxpayers $366 million to transition and at least an additional $139 million each year.
"The dialogue around having a Provincial Police force needs to be dialled back as the people have spoken," High Level Mayor Crystal McAteer said.
"High Level does not want a municipal police force…we want the RCMP to remain," she stated, adding a call for improvements to the Mounties.
"Transitioning to a provincial police force would impose unnecessary costs and uncertainty on Albertans," Edson Mayor Kevin Zahara said.
The signatories instead are calling on Alberta to fund more RCMP officers, improve social services in an effort to prevent crime and increase the capacity of the justice system by hiring more prosecutors and judges.
Alberta Municipalities and Rural Municipalities of Alberta have both previously passed resolutions critical of the UCP's provincial police efforts.
"The Government of Alberta has lost the trust of its constituents in its pursuit of an Alberta Provincial Police Service (APPS) by not undertaking fulsome, open, and transparent consultations with all those affected," the Monday letter states.
'IT WILL COST ALBERTANS A LITTLE BIT MORE'
Former finance minister and UCP leadership candidate Travis Toews said in a debate last Friday that despite a bigger price tag, he still supports the idea.
"I believe we could improve the culture, we could see enforcement with less bureaucracy, even though it will cost Albertans a little bit more," Toews said.
Other leadership candidates Leela Aheer, Brian Jean, Todd Loewen, Rajan Sawhney and Danielle Smith also spoke favourably about provincial police, although some said the UCP needs to do a better job of selling the idea to Albertans.
"I would work to bring (critics) along, cause I believe it's a successful proposition," Sawhney said.
A spokesperson for candidate Rebecca Schulz clarified Monday that she hasn't made up her mind one way or the other.
"We haven't communicated the benefits and I think we have to have that discussion," Schulz said on Friday.
Last November, Premier Jason Kenney implored rural leaders to get on board with a provincial police force, promising that any added costs would not be downloaded directly onto municipalities.
“A UCP provincial police force is really just a sneaky plan to raise Albertans’ taxes again,” NDP Municipal Affairs Critic Joe Ceci said Monday referring to a funding model unveiled in 2019 that makes municipalities pay more for police.
“There is an election coming and should Alberta’s NDP form the next government, Albertans can trust our commitment to listen to local leaders and scrap this expensive and unnecessary plan,” NDP Justice Critic Irfan Sabir added.
A survey released by the "Fair Deal Panel" in 2020 suggested two-thirds of Albertans do not wish to abandon the RCMP.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Adam Lachacz and The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

WATCH 'Jumped over their heads': Kangaroo escapes Ontario zoo during overnight stay
A kangaroo destined for Quebec escaped an Ontario zoo during an overnight stay on Friday. According to an employee, it "jumped" over handlers' heads.
With Canada set to reimpose cap on working hours, international students worry about paying for tuition, living expenses
Canada is set to reimpose the cap on the number of hours that international students can work off campus. But with heightened cost-of-living concerns in Canada, many international students say they're not sure how they'll be able to afford their tuition and living expenses if they can't work full-time.
Inmate stabbed Derek Chauvin 22 times, charged with attempted murder, prosecutors say
A federal inmate was charged Friday with attempted murder in the prison stabbing of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.
Environment Canada calls for mild, rainy winter for most of Canada
Winter will be unusually warm and rainy across much of the country this year, according to the latest data from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
More salmonella-contaminated fruits pulled amid outbreak: Here's what was recalled in Canada this week
Here's a list of recalled items that got taken off the shelves this week
Alleged Montreal-area 'Chinese police stations' planning to sue RCMP for $2.5 million
Two Chinese community centres in the Montreal area are planning to launch a $2.5 million defamation lawsuit against the RCMP and the Attorney General of Canada after being accused by the police force of hosting 'alleged Chinese police stations.'
Live updates Israeli strikes kill over 175 people in Gaza as cease-fire ends, health officials say
Israeli strikes on houses and buildings have killed at least 178 people throughout the Gaza Strip on the first hours of fighting after a weeklong truce collapsed Friday, according to the Health Ministry there. Israel said it struck more than 200 Hamas targets.
Suspect charged with 4 counts of second-degree murder in Winnipeg mass shooting
A suspect has been charged with four counts of second-degree murder in connection with the Langside homicide.
Former Sask. hockey coach found guilty of sexual assault and assault
Former Saskatchewan junior hockey coach Bernard (Bernie) Lynch was found guilty by a Regina Court of King’s Bench judge on Friday of sexual assault and assault stemming from incidents that took place in August of 1988.