Exclusive: Alberta moves forward with regional policing model as it mulls provincial force

While it isn't the Alberta Police Service, the United Conservative Party government is looking to help at least one municipality -- Grande Prairie -- replace the RCMP.

While it isn’t the Alberta Police Service, the United Conservative Party government is looking to help at least one municipality replace the RCMP.

Alberta’s public safety minister says no decision has been made on whether the province will move forward with its own police force, but it is looking at other immediate options to help improve safety and reduce response times in rural Alberta.

“For me, when you’re in rural Alberta and somebody calls 911, I have an expectation (that) police show up and respond in a timely matter,” Mike Ellis told Global News.

Is this changing the Alberta government’s focus on a provincial police service?

“I wouldn’t say anything is on the backburner, but I will say all options are on the table,” Ellis said.

The province is partnering with municipalities to help them with costs related to starting their own municipal police services.

“It’s about saying: ‘What’s the best needs for that municipality?’ In some cases, there are some municipalities that have reached out to us and made it explicitly clear, saying: ‘We are content with the current model that we have,'” Ellis added.

Grande Prairie has been mulling the idea of starting its own municipal police service. If the city proceeds, then Alberta will provide it with close to $10 million over two years. That money would go towards start-up costs like equipment, vehicles and uniforms.