St. Albert would need to spend anywhere between $150,000 and $300,000 to study the feasibility of transitioning to a municipal police force, according to an estimate published by city on April 17.
The estimate was developed in response to an information request submitted by Coun. Ken MacKay last month, as he wanted to know if the provincial government's $30,000 grant program for municipalities interested in studying a transition away from the RCMP would be sufficient.
In an interview, MacKay said he wasn't surprised to see that the $30,000 grant would only partially cover the cost of a study, but he plans to wait until after the upcoming provincial election before making a decision on whether or not he'll put forward a motion to have the study be completed.
“We're going to wait until after the election because that's the recommendation of administration and I just think we've got to look and see where we're going to go,” MacKay said.
In a report to council, the city's fire chief and director of emergency services Everett Cooke said an effective study on transitioning away from the RCMP would include looking at local policing needs and requirements, future population growth, crime rates, and all necessary operating and capital costs.
“It is believed that this type of study could range anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000 and take 12 to 24 months to complete, dependent upon the final scope of work that council would elect to include,” Cooke wrote.
More funding could be available
Mike Ellis, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, explained that municipalities could receive additional funding if a municipality expresses such a need, speaking at an April 18 press conference in St. Albert regarding the provincial government's $30,000 grant.
“I want to make sure that municipalities are empowered so that they are making informed decisions,” Ellis said, adding, “if the mayor or somebody else comes to me and says, 'You know what, I think that we might need a little bit more money in order to conduct a bit more thorough of a study', then it's precisely what we'll do.”
“We'll look and see what options are available.”
Mayor Cathy Heron, who also spoke at the April 18 press conference, mentioned that she's had preliminary and informal discussions with mayors of other municipalities in the region about the possibility of developing a regional police service, and she confirmed the province has given approval for municipalities to pool the grant money to undertake a regional policing study.
“I think what's important is that we're ready for whatever comes,” Heron said. “I don't think there's a rush or an urgency to get this decision done.”
“For me, personally, we need to have some signals from the provincial government on what they're doing with (a potential provincial police service) because that is obviously a big trigger that many of the mayors and councillors across the province are waiting for.”
Last month, Heron told the Gazette she thought having a regional RCMP service could also be possibility, and could potentially save the city some policing costs, however she plans to wait until after the provincial election before putting any motions forward.
Heron reiterated on April 18 that she doesn't have any concerns with the policing services currently provided in St. Albert by the RCMP.
“In this community in particular we are well served by the RCMP,” she said. “We have a very low crime rate and I have nothing to complain about with the RCMP and we have a very highly functioning police committee.”
“I hear elsewhere that (it's) not the same case.”
