Nanton mayor voices frustration over provincial police force

Nanton Mayor Jennifer Handley drew some attention on Twitter Thursday, Aug. 18.

In a tweet she voiced continued frustration at the notion of a provincial police force.

Hi there! Rural Alberta Mayor here. We. Do. Not. Want. An. Alberta. Police. Force. Just in case our formal and informal communications have not been clear enough.

— Jennifer Handley (@jenhandley) August 18, 2022

In a follow-up tweet, she called on other mayors to make their voices heard, with Handley adding she's yet to hear from a mayor or council who support the notion.

The tweet quickly picked up traction, with retweets from NDP leader Rachel Notley, former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, and several NDP MLAs.

Lethbridge County Reeve Tory Campbell responded, sharing the sentiment.

Hi Mayor Handley, we’ve consistently communicate to the Province our opposition to the creation of an Alberta Police Service, both through written communication and face-to-face meetings with MLAs/Ministers. We value our relationship with our county’s responding RCMP detachment.

— Tory Campbell (@LethCountyReeve) August 18, 2022

Chestermere-Strathmore MLA/Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, Leela Aheer, also responded.

I am listening my friend. Thank you!

— Leela Sharon Aheer (@LeelaAheer) August 18, 2022

The tweet comes two days after Justice Minister Tyler Shandro presented the provincial government's plan for a provincial police force on Tuesday Aug. 16.

According to the plan, the switch would see more officers and shorter response times in rural areas of the province.

Many rural municipalities have spoken out against the plan in the last few months, with worries over additional costs, decreased service, and the sacrifice of existing relationships between municipalities and their local RCMP detachments.

In June, a letter signed by over 70 Alberta municipalities was submitted to Premier Jason Kenney requesting the Alberta government cease their efforts on establishing a provincial police force.

Part of Minister Shandro's presentation seemed to be dedicated to quelling those concerns, with Shandro giving assurance that no additional costs would be downloaded onto municipalities while also calling the prospect of losing $200 million in federal police funding a "red herring".

No formal decision has been made yet as to whether or not Alberta would make the change, with the minister saying it will be up to the next provincial government to make the call.