Alberta has updated its Police Act, but the work to improve policing rules isn't done yet
CBC
Late last year, Alberta's United Conservative Party government amended the provincial Police Act, marking the first major effort to modernize the legislation in more than three decades.
The update followed years of review through consultations with stakeholders, including police associations, First Nations and municipalities.
The amendment act, which was proclaimed on Dec. 15, establishes an independent commission to manage complaints and conduct disciplinary proceedings and mandates the creation of civilian governing bodies for communities policed by the RCMP.
It also requires police services to develop community safety plans, diversity and inclusion plans, and their own policing priorities.
Critics say the changes still miss the mark in some areas. Now, further work is set to begin on police regulations, the rules that address the law's practical applications.
"The key elements of the Police Amendment Act will take shape and come into effect as Alberta's government develops associated regulations," Dylan Topal, press secretary for Mike Ellis, Alberta's public safety minister, said in an emailed statement.
The process will involve further consultations with stakeholders in several sectors, Topal said.
"This legislation is part of a wider — and ongoing — effort to reform and reimagine policing in Alberta.
"We'll continue to look at ways to modernize policing through further legislative reforms, as well as non-legislative changes that can be made by revising policing standards and guidelines."
An access to information request for recommendations from the Police Act consultations returned 21 pages.
Everything except background information was redacted.
CBC News spoke to several sources about the ideas that didn't make it into amendments, some of which could still be addressed as regulations are hashed out.
Temitope Oriola, a professor of criminology at the University of Alberta, was appointed as a special adviser to assist in the review of the Police Act.
The revised act includes the creation of a police review commission, which was in line with Oriola's recommendations and "a long overdue step," he said in an interview.