Trading the Mountie for a maybe: Alberta’s risky police makeover

If Alberta’s government had a badge for every time it picked a fight with Ottawa, it could start its own police force — oh wait, that’s exactly what it’s trying to do.

Alberta’s plan to launch its provincial police service is picking up speed. But the people expected to make it work aren’t convinced. Bill 49 would create a Crown corporation to oversee the new force, which municipalities could choose instead of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis says it’s about fixing RCMP staffing shortages, reducing rural wait times, and cutting long-term costs. But Alberta’s sheriffs — the ones likely to be absorbed into the new system — say the government didn’t ask them, doesn’t pay them enough, and hasn’t earned their confidence. The government could reassign roughly 600 sheriffs to the provincial police force. Many say the announcement came without warning. Their worries go beyond job titles. They argue the change could harm public trust and muddy operational roles. No one seems clear on what duties sheriffs would perform under the new agency, or what protections would carry over. The whole thing feels like a gamble.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) is also raising flags. It points to the pay gap. Sheriffs make between $50,000 and $85,000. RCMP officers in Alberta can earn up to $115,000. The government needs to pay sheriffs more if it expects them to take on additional duties. The province insists that joining the force would be voluntary for municipalities. Still, many local leaders are uneasy. Some sheriffs say the government didn’t consult them before releasing the plan. Others worry about losing RCMP support or facing new costs to build local police infrastructure.

Then there’s the cultural piece. The RCMP isn’t just a police service. It’s a national symbol. The red serge, the wide-brimmed Stetson, and the image of a Mountie on horseback are stitched into Canada’s identity. You see it in tourism ads, schoolbooks, and history exhibits. Scrapping that image now — amid rising Alberta-first rhetoric and Western separatist talk — sends a risky message. It’s not just about who patrols the streets. It’s about what kind of Canada Albertans want to belong to.

There’s nothing wrong with reviewing how policing works. Federal contracts are expensive. Rural communities have real concerns. But major changes require more than slogans and speed. They need real consultation, clear budgeting, and buy-in from the people doing the work. So far, Bill 49 doesn’t check those boxes. The province seems more focused on headlines than handcuffs. And it’s charging ahead without the support of its own officers.

If the government wants real reform, it should start with those already on the ground. That means fair pay, real dialogue, and giving communities honest choices. Otherwise, this isn’t progress. It’s just a bureaucratic rebrand dressed up like a plan.