Local leaders reject Alberta police force plans, suggest a referendum on issue
CTV
Albertans should be able to cast ballots in a referendum on whether or not to replace the RCMP with a provincial police force, a group of local leaders requested Wednesday afternoon.
Albertans should be able to cast ballots in a referendum on whether or not to replace the RCMP with a provincial police force, a group of local leaders requested Wednesday afternoon.
By a vote of 144-34, members of Alberta Municipalities also rejected the proposed models the UCP government is considering for operating its own police service.
"Our questions are not being answered. That engagement hasn't been there. There's been turmoil in the ministry of justice, so we don't even know who to talk to," president Cathy Heron said Wednesday.
After then-Justice-Minister Kaycee Madu was asked to "step back" due to controversy in January, Heron said she and other leaders couldn't get answers from the government.
She now has a meeting with new minister Tyler Shandro in April.
"I don't know if I'll be able to hire my detachment commander. I don't know if I'll be able to deal with complaints within my community. Those are questions that are really important to municipalities and they're being left unanswered," Heron said.
Local leaders also voted to urge the province to "address the root causes of crime" and "ensure the justice system is adequately resourced to enable timely access to justice for all Albertans."
