Alberta's Policing Clash: NPF Fights Provincial Force Proposal

EDMONTON, Alberta – December 29, 2025 – A fierce battle over the future of law enforcement in Alberta has intensified, with the National Police Federation (NPF) issuing a scathing rebuke of a provincial panel's recommendation to replace the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with a new Alberta Police Service (APS). The NPF, representing 20,000 RCMP members, has branded the proposal as a "politically driven attempt to revive a policing proposal that Albertans have repeatedly rejected."

The conflict was reignited by the "Alberta NEXT Panel," a body tasked with recommending actions to enhance provincial sovereignty. Among its key suggestions was for the government to "continue with the work of establishing an Alberta Police Service" and transition away from the RCMP before the current contract expires in 2032.

In a sharply worded statement, NPF President and CEO Brian Sauvé declared the panel's report "non-binding" and lacking in "credibility." He argued its conclusions are "built on selective information, misleading claims, and the continued repetition of narratives that have been demonstrably false for years."

A Deepening Political Divide

The provincial government and the police union are now locked in a public dispute over facts, finances, and the very will of the people. The NPF accuses the panel of using "outdated references to RCMP staffing challenges and the mischaracterization of federal policy," pointing out that the federal government recently reaffirmed its commitment to RCMP contract policing beyond 2032.

Premier Danielle Smith's government, however, appears determined to press forward. The Premier has stated her caucus will review the panel's report, which she framed as an exercise in "confronting realities and identifying options for Alberta to control its future." This aligns with a broader "Fair Deal" narrative that seeks greater autonomy from Ottawa.

A major point of contention is the issue of public consultation. The NPF statement highlights a previous commitment from the government to hold a referendum before making fundamental changes to policing, a promise it claims "now appears to be quietly abandoned." The panel's report did not recommend a referendum on the policing issue itself, though it did for other matters like immigration and constitutional reform. The panel justified bypassing a direct vote on policing by claiming most Albertans are served by municipal police, an assertion the NPF calls "simply untrue."

"99% of Alberta’s landmass and 40% of Albertans are served by the RCMP," Sauvé stated, arguing that dismissing the voices of these communities "undermines democratic accountability and public trust."

Rural Voices and Contradictory Polls

At the heart of the debate are the nearly two million Albertans living in communities policed by the RCMP. The NPF claims its own multi-year research shows 76% satisfaction with RCMP services in these areas, with a mere 9% supporting a provincial replacement and 81% believing the province has more important priorities.

However, public opinion on the matter is complex and contested. The Alberta NEXT Panel's own report acknowledged contradictory findings: while it claimed "clear majority support" in its in-person town hall polling, it also noted "clear majority oppose" in online surveys and cited a professional poll showing 52% opposition to an APS.

This data aligns more closely with findings from other organizations. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA), a vocal opponent of the transition, has cited surveys showing 70% opposition to replacing the RCMP and 80% satisfaction with current services. Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis), representing urban and rural communities, has also passed resolutions opposing the move, citing a lack of answers from the province on critical issues like funding, service levels, and costs. Both municipal associations represent hundreds of communities that would be directly affected by the change, and they have consistently voiced concerns that their constituents' preference for the RCMP is being overlooked.

The Staggering Price of a New Police Force

Beyond public opinion, the financial and logistical feasibility of creating a provincial police force from scratch remains a central and contentious issue. A 2021 PwC study, commissioned by the Alberta government, estimated the transition would involve a one-time startup cost of $366 million, with annual operating costs of around $200 million.

Opponents, however, argue these figures are dangerously misleading. The RMA has calculated that the province would forfeit over $188 million in annual federal subsidies that currently help pay for the RCMP. When this lost funding is factored in, the RMA estimates the net cost to Alberta taxpayers would increase by $139 million to $164 million each year, on top of the initial $366 million transition bill. The province has yet to release a detailed funding model, leaving municipalities worried about who will bear these substantial new costs.

Operational concerns are just as significant. An internal RCMP analysis of the proposed APS model warned that it "oversimplified police operations" and was overly reliant on unproven staffing increases. The RMA has echoed these concerns, questioning the "impracticality of hiring thousands of trained police officers" at once and warning of potential service disruptions. In contrast, the NPF asserts that the RCMP has strong recruitment and expanding training capacity, highlighting a "full Alberta troop set to graduate in March 2026" to serve communities across the province.

The government has already taken legislative steps, such as passing the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act 2025 to create a labor relations framework for a potential Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, a move seen by many as a stepping stone towards a full provincial force. Yet, as the NPF continues to "challenge false narratives" and municipal leaders demand answers, the path to a new policing model in Alberta is proving to be fraught with political, financial, and social obstacles. With both sides digging in, the future of policing for nearly half of Alberta's population hangs in a delicate and contentious balance.