Alberta municipalities and Indigenous communities are now being given the opportunity to see if having a community police service is right for them.
The grant which was promised before budget 2023 and is now being put into action.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis spoke how a new grant created by the province will help municipalities with populations over 5,000 will have the chance to explore having their own police service rather than contracting the RCMP.
Public Safety and Emergency Services Minster, Mike Ellis
The new Indigenous and Municipal Police Transition Study Grants if a community is approved could provide up to $30,000 dollars for an independent study to see if a local or regional police service would benefit the community it would serve.
There are currently thirteen approved applicates across the province including five Indigenous communities who are looking at developing their own police service.
St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron who is also the president of Alberta Municipalities spoke on how the communities of St. Albert, Leduc and Spouse Grove who’ve each been approved for the grant will be exploring a regional policing network around the Edmonton Area.
Mayor of St. Albert and President of Alberta Municipalities, Cathy Heron
During the question period Windspeaker Radio Network asked if the grant will be extended to existing community police services like the Blood Police Service in the Kainai Nation.
There are currently four Indigenous Police services in the Province with the newest one being in the Siksika Nation which was re-established back in September.
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