Results of the upcoming federal census will determine whether the Town of Westlock will pay for its policing.
Westlock has a population of 5,147 according to the 2015 municipal census, which under the Police Act requires the municipality to provide its own police services, although that could change once the federal census results are released in February.
“From our understanding, every municipality in Alberta that pays for policing is always based on the federal census, not the municipal census,” said town CAO Dean Krause.
Brendan Cox, public affairs officer with the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General, said the most recent census numbers, whether federal or municipal, are used.
If the federal number shows the town’s population is 5,000 or under, the municipality won’t pay for policing. If it confirms the 5,147 figure, the town must take over by April 1, 2018 and if that happens, Krause said they are asking for a two-year transition period to start in 2017.
And as to how much that will cost, town and provincial officials aren’t sure.
Since 2004 the province has funded the RCMP in town — previously only communities with a population under 2,500 had RCMP costs paid. That year town council budgeted $572,555 for policing, which covered six officers and a portion of the detachment’s administrative staff.
According to the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General website, communities over 5,000 can access the Municipal Policing Assistance Grant Program — towns and cities from 5,001 to 16,666 receive a $200,000 base payment, plus an additional $8 per capita. In addition, the province provides money via the Police Officers Grant which gives municipalities up to $100,000 per position, per year.
Provincial policing is paid for through the Provincial Police Service Agreement between the province and feds at a ratio of 70 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively. This agreement runs until 2032 and costs the province over $200 million annually.
The confusion leading up to this point has stemmed from the province sending mixed messages.
In 2015, the town completed a municipal census, which counted a population of 5,147. In December 2015, the province accepted the census, even though it was not submitted as the official population, and wrote that it would not require the town to pay for policing, since it’s based on the federal census.
However, in early 2016, the town received a letter from Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley saying they would be responsible for policing based on the municipal census.
“So we got two conflicting stories out of the provincial government,” Krause explained.
“So we met with Minister Ganley to straighten this out because it affects our long-term planning and Minister Ganley in that meeting said pretty much no, they’re going to stick to the municipal census.”
Ganley met with the town in September and confirmed at the end of 2016 that the town would be responsible and apologized for past “misinformation from officials.”
Krause said that has affected the town’s long-term financial planning, which is why they would like the two-year transition date changed.
“Back in 2015, we were starting to do our long-term financial planning, but then when we were told that we didn’t have to worry about the municipal census, then OK, we can take that equation out of our long-term financial planning for at least another year,” he said.
Mayor Ralph Leriger noted that the whole idea for the municipal census was to shape the town and find out where the population lived, their demographics, the need for playgrounds and other infrastructure.
“That was the intention behind the municipal census to begin with; (it) was about planning and preparation for all issues, including policing,” he said.
Besides the town potentially running its own police force, Leriger said there is a further complicating factor.
“There is the whole ‘is this yet another inequitable funding model from the province,’” he noted. “Certainly, not all municipalities pay for policing, but all citizens benefit from policing.”
Although there are more than 5,000 people living in Westlock County, the county, as a rural municipality, is not required to pay for policing.
Despite ongoing discussions of regional collaboration and sharing services with neighbouring municipalities, Leriger said that this case doesn’t involve them.
“They’re not being asked to pay for policing. Why would they want to be part of that conversation?
“The point am I am trying to make is that crime doesn’t just happen in town. All citizens of the province benefit from policing and thusly, should pay their share of the costs, including the Town of Westlock.”
If the town does become responsible, council will have the choice of signing an agreement with the RCMP, hiring another police force, or creating its own, but Krause noted that it would be up to the province to decide on the number of officers and other needs. As well, the town will have to cover administration support staff for those officers and pay a lease rate for them to use the RCMP detachment.
“None of which the municipality gets any input into,” Leriger added. “We are on the receiving end of that information, not on the consulting end of that information.”
