Whatever the city of Grande Prairie decides to do about its policing is ultimately only its own business. However, given the Alberta government’s sudden interest in that decision, it’s clear there are broader ramifications for policing in Alberta.
Grande Prairie will decide next week whether to proceed with establishing its own municipal force to take over policing responsibilities from the RCMP. That is an option available to municipalities across Alberta, and already exists in not just Edmonton and Calgary, but in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Taber, Lacombe and Camrose. The catch, however, is that those municipalities are responsible for the costs of policing.
To that end, those other cities and towns might soon have cause to feel slighted. The Alberta government last week announced it would provide $9.7 million over two years to help Grande Prairie if it elects to make the switch. Reportedly, today’s budget will set aside even more money to similarly encourage/reward other municipalities who choose to follow in Grande Prairie’s (possible) footsteps.
What had come out the week before, however, is helpful in understanding this new approach. Polling done by Janet Brown Opinion Research — one of Alberta’s leading and most respected pollsters — shows there is little support or enthusiasm for a provincial police force. That continues to stand in contrast with the apparent support and enthusiasm of the Alberta government and segment of the UCP political base.
Incrementally phasing out the RCMP doesn’t exactly accomplish the goal of creating a provincial police force, but it helps satisfy part of the political impetus. This whole issue seems less about policing and more about reducing federal involvement in Alberta’s affairs, hence the Fair Deal Panel being asked to consider the idea. Making the RCMP less visible one municipality at a time might just be the next best thing, politically. It’s still a lot cheaper than creating a provincial police force.
But here’s the thing: Alberta’s offer to Grande Prairie — or to other municipalities — is not at all unreasonable. While there are clearly many municipalities that are content with the RCMP policing contract, other communities shouldn’t feel as though they’re stuck in that arrangement. If a city or town sees a better path with a local police force, provincial support in that transition makes sense.
However, it’s hypocritical for the province to embrace the autonomy of cities that would divorce themselves from the RCMP while also entertaining the notion of imposing a provincial police force on municipalities that don’t want it. While the funding support idea has merit, the obvious agenda at play here makes it seem less genuine.
Alberta backing away from the provincial police force idea doesn’t have to mean that the status quo will persist forever. The RCMP will soon have a new commissioner, and there are some significant conversations to be had about the role, the mandate and the future of Canada’s national police service. The question of whether the RCMP should be doing community policing at all is certainly one of those conversations.
But the factors that will drive those conversations have nothing to do with Alberta’s political beefs with Ottawa or whatever we think a “fair deal” does or should entail. Let’s park the Alberta flag-waving and try to productively engage in those conversations.
In the meantime, yes, let’s give municipalities the flexibility to deliver policing in ways that make the most sense in their communities. As was stated by the province in last week’s announcement, municipalities “are in the best position to decide how to improve safety in their community.”
That’s a sensible and reasonable position to take. The Alberta government, though, needs to decide how committed it is to it. It can’t just pick and choose which municipalities are deserving of such consideration based on a preferred political outcome.
“Afternoons with Rob Breakenridge” airs weekdays from 12:30-3 p.m. on QR Calgary and 2 to 3 p.m. on 630 CHED
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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