The province has announced a $7 million injection of funding into the Grande Prairie Police Service, as the city continues its transition away from the RCMP.
The funding, announced by Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis on Tuesday, is likely the final slice of $19 million in support initially promised by the Government of Alberta in 2023.
“The City of Grande Prairie is pursuing a policing solution that’s right for the community and its residents, and Alberta’s government is behind them throughout the transition process. Albertans, regardless of where they live, deserve fast and reliable law enforcement where and when they need it,” Ellis says.
“Our government remains committed to ensuring Alberta municipalities have their choice of policing provider.”
Grande Prairie Police Chief Dwayne Lakusta says the service remains grateful for the support from the provincial government, as they continue to lay the groundwork for the eventual takeover of policing in the municipality.
“We’re hitting a lot of milestones that wouldn’t be possible commitment from the Government of Alberta,” he says.
“When we have that in hand, we can action it appropriately so we can commit to the infrastructure that we need to be the police of jurisdiction in 2026, which is two years ahead of schedule.”
Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton says that when the council decided to transition from the RCMP, it was done to create a safer community, and it’s something she believes is already bearing fruit.
“Having this transition going well, knowing that the recruitment is going well is something we are extremely proud of.
“Knowing there are significant numbers of people registering to become recruits, significant numbers of experienced officers transitions from other municipal police services… it’s really how we get to where we are today, with over 50 members [to date] and fully transitioned in the fall of 2026,” she adds.
Under Alberta’s Police Act, towns and cities with populations exceeding 5,000 are responsible for their own policing and can establish their own municipal police service, participate in a regional policing arrangement, or contract with the federal government for RCMP policing services to meet their public safety needs.
