The Provincial Government has announced they will be funding approximately 500 new RCMP members to be placed in Rural Municipalities across Alberta.

The new Alberta Police Funding Model announced on December 4, has the province spending $286 million over five years to enhance law enforcement.

The costs will be shared between the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments.

According to the Province, Alberta will be on the hook for 70 per cent of the total costs, the Feds will cover the remaining 30 per cent and municipalities will pay a base cost that will be calculated based on their population.

Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer says this is the biggest investment the province has made.

"This is the single largest overall investment in rural policing since the march west. We are forging a new partnership with the communities that rely on us to help keep them safe." Schweitzer adds "Every dollar will go right back into rural front line policing here in Alberta. This means an additional 500 law enforcement personnel here in Alberta helping keep communities safe."

Currently Schweitzer says there is approximately 1600 rural RCMP members, and this investment should bring them up to 1900 police officers.

He says it will also allow for increasing the number of support staff, tactical units, provide technical expertise and includes allowing for extra behind-the-scenes work to be done.

The funds invested will be split between scrap metal crime units, auto theft units and call centre management.

Deputy Commissioner to the RCMP, Curtis Zablocki says there's still plenty of work to do, but this is an excellent first step.

"The Government of Alberta has made an unprecedented investment in their police service, and we are ready to deliver on that commitment. The funding model announced will allow the Alberta RCMP to put additional resources where they are needed most immediately – on the front line in your detachments, protecting your backyards and your farmyards, pushing back crime in a sophisticated and focused manner."

Small and rural communities will begin contributing a portion of their front line policing costs in 2020.

Schwietzer says the new funding model is being phased in to give municipalities time to prepare.

"The new funding model will not happen all at once, it will be phased in over a four year period of time and will give municipalities time to adjust."

Communities will contribute 10 per cent of policing costs in 2020, followed by 15 per cent in 2021, 20 per cent in 2022 and 30 per cent in 2023.

The province will also create a new Alberta Police Advisory Board.

They say those leading Municipalities will have a seat at the table, working in collaboration with law enforcement to ensure local needs are heard and implemented.

 

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