Urgent Call for Accountability Regarding Bill 49 and the Government’s Unilateral Police Service

Dear Minister Ellis,

I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the Province’s decision to move forward with the creation of a new Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS).

This plan to convert 600 Sheriffs into police officers and build a duplicate provincial police agency is not only costly and unnecessary but also out of step with what Albertans want. When this idea was first introduced, Albertans overwhelmingly rejected it. Municipal leaders, community groups, and everyday residents made it clear: we do not support replacing or duplicating the RCMP in Alberta.

Since then, your government has done no further consultation with the public, municipalities, or police stakeholders. And yet, you are quietly moving ahead with a plan that will cost Alberta taxpayers millions, hollow out the existing Sheriff program, and risk destabilizing public safety services across the province.

There is no public mandate for this decision. There is no demonstrated need for a second, duplicate provincial police service. And there is no evidence that this plan will improve public safety or save money.

Alberta communities served by the RCMP currently benefit from highly trained, specialized, and trusted policing services. We also benefit from cost-sharing agreements that make our services affordable, especially during a time of economic downturn. Through the cost-sharing agreements with the federal government, the money our community saves on policing costs helps to fund other needed programs in our community. The IAPS model puts all of that at risk — at a time when municipalities can least afford it.

I urge you to pause this plan immediately. Instead, invest those funds into strengthening current policing services in Alberta, like the RCMP. That’s what communities have consistently asked for.

Public safety decisions should be based on consultation, transparency, and evidence — not politics. Albertans deserve a say in how their communities are policed, and right now, you’re not listening.

Please do the right thing. Stop the IAPS and work with communities to strengthen the RCMP services already in place.

Sincerely,