Alberta builds groundwork for optional provincial police agency for municipalities

Alberta’s government is taking another step toward giving municipalities the option of ditching the RCMP in favour of a new provincial police service.Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis says an independent Alberta service could step in to help address concerns he’s heard about the Mounties’ staffing shortages and rising costs.If passed, a proposed bill would mean a new agency must operate under a Crown corporation that would be at arm’s length from the government.