Rural Albertans were dismayed after claims from the NDP opposition that the UCP government had plans to cut police funding for urban municipalities with smaller populations.

The NDP allege the cuts would result in tax increases as high as $406 per person, per year.

They also released a transcript from a UCP presentation, which they say outlines the intended cuts.

Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson says the claims are false, and the UCP are exploring ways to increase funding, rather than make cuts.

Contrary the the NDP's claims, Sigurdson says the UCP are proposing funding models to rural municipalities that would see additional police funding on top of what the provincial government already provides.

"This is in addition to what the government is currently, already investing in policing. There is no cut, and I think that's important to state. This is all about asking our municipal partners to be partners with us to generate more income so that we can help combat the rural crime issue that we know is such an inherent problem across all of Alberta."

He says the leaked transcript was a funding model the UCP had pitched to these municipalities, in order to gain feedback and gauge whether or not smaller municipalities would be willing to contribute more funding for policing.

"That's something we put out to the urban municipalities, and we're now looking for their feedback; is this something they can buy into, is this something they can do within their community, but we're definitely not going to force this down on them. This is all about consultation, and that's what this government is focused on."

According to Sigurdson, this consultation process began on Thursday, September 5, with plans to continue the discussion up until Tuesday, October 15.

He says the UCP are still fully committed to combating rural crime; a commitment the UCP were adamant about during their 2019 election campaign.

This, and the recent lawsuit against Eddie Maurice are sure to be two of the bigger talking points during the Rural Crime Town Hall Meeting in Okotoks, part of Justice Minister Doug Scheitzer's Rural Crime Tour.

The event will be held at the Foothills Centennial Centre on Tuesday, October 1t from 7-9 p.m., with Sigurdson also in attendance.

 

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