Breakenridge: Take politics out of discussions on local policing - Calgary Herald

The idea of replacing the RCMP with local police services has merit, but it needs to be based on the benefits to communities and not on a political agenda. Mike Drew/Postmedia

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

[email protected]
Twitter: @RobBreakenridge

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.