by Dana McArthur
During the Town Council meeting on March 4, council discussed the recent Government of Alberta legislation mandating civilian governance bodies for all communities policed by the RCMP in Alberta.
This gives civilians a role in setting policing priorities and performance goals they’ve never had under the existing governance structure.
Eric Christensen, Enforcement Services Manager gave the presentation. “The Alberta government introduced and passed Bill 6, the Police Amendment Act (PAA), in December 2022 as part of its broader strategy to modernize policing and improve public safety.”
This legislative reform aims to address growing concerns around transparency, accountability, and community involvement in policing, particularly in municipalities served by the RCMP. Subsequent regulations mandating civilian governance structures were introduced in November 2024 and come into effect March 1, 2025.
Council had three options to consider including: joining a Regional Policing Committee; creating a Municipal Policing Committee; or forming a Joint Municipal Policing Committee with nearby municipalities.
Option 2 would place the responsibility for staffing and oversight solely on the Town of Edson. However, this option allows for a more localized and tailored approach to policing, ensuring that the committee’s focus aligns closely with community specific concerns.
“With that, Administration is recommending that council seek an exemption from the regional policing committee in favour of the municipal policing committee,” said Christensen. A Bylaw is also required to constitute a committee with the appointment of a board consisting of a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 7 board members.
The focus would solely be on the Town of Edson and all costs associated with this option would by financed by the Town of Edson. The operational impacts are significant as staffing oversight and support will need to be incorporated into current service levels. There is an estimated $10,000 – $15,000 initial setup cost, with yet to be determined ongoing expenses.
Councillor Peter Taylor said, “This provincial legislative reform aims to address growing concerns around transparency, accountability, and community involvement in policing. I hear those things and I guess I’m struggling. We just had S/Sgt. Christian Delisle present crime stats to the biggest gathering of people we’ve had at a council meeting. We are transparent, we have accountability and community involvement, as we just saw the policing priorities of going around to the public and chatting.” Having to do this is frustrating, Taylor added.
Mayor Kevin Zahara said, “The Yellowhead County is not involved at all as they’re mandated to be a part of the provincial committee, because they’re deemed provincial policing where we’re municipal policing, but we have the same detachment. So that does not sound very efficient. I am meeting with the minister this week and I will be sharing our displeasure with this direction, because it is adding additional cost when it’s not necessary. We already have processes in place, we have town halls where the community can engage and fire questions at our staff sergeant, and he’s always open to take taking phone calls as well. Thank you for bringing this forward and we’ll see where this goes.”
Council passed the motion to seek exemption from the regional policing committee in favour of a municipal policing committee for the Town of Edson.