UCP leadership candidates explain stances on provincial police force, Alberta Sovereignty Act
CTV
Three of the candidates running to be leader of the United Conservative Party believe Alberta should create its own provincial police force, while others believe Albertans should be further consulted.
Three of the candidates running to be leader of the United Conservative Party believe Alberta should create its own provincial police force, while others believe Albertans should be further consulted.
Seven of the eight UCP leadership hopefuls and Alberta's next premier participated in a panel discussion Thursday hosted by the Free Alberta Strategy. The strategy, launched in September 2021, shares initiatives the province can "implement today" to make Alberta a "sovereign jurisdiction" within Canada.
Former finance minister Travis Toews, Independent MLA for Central Peace-Notley Todd Loewen, and Former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith said they would fully support creating a new police force in Alberta.
UCP MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore Leela Aheer said there was not enough consultation with Albertans to pursue the initiative. Rajan Sawhney, former transportation minister, noted rural municipalities had expressed concern about the idea.
Brian Jean, former Wildrose Party leader and UCP MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche, worried that with all the upfront costs of creating a force, the province would end up with fewer officers deployed.
He would push more cities to create their own police services to "free up" the RCMP for rural policing.
Rebecca Schulz, former children's services minister, said the inquiry into the RCMP response to Nova Scotia's mass shooting in April 2020 showed "gaps" in the service Mounties provide.
