Latest news with #BrianSauvé
Calgary Herald
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
RCMP union challenges bilingualism claim in province's Alberta Next survey
Article content The union representing RCMP officers is disputing that its members do not have the opportunity to advance to senior roles unless they speak French, as claimed in the preamble to a new Alberta government survey. Article content On Wednesday, Premier Danielle Smith launched the province's 15-member Alberta Next panel along with corresponding online engagement questionnaires. Article content Article content Article content The panel is seeking feedback on measures Alberta could pursue to further assert itself against the federal government, with an initial focus on an Alberta pension plan, tax collection, immigration, constitutional changes, federal transfers including equalization, and a provincial police force. Article content Article content The panel's website has individual polls for each of those issues that can only be taken following a short animated video. Article content 'Because of French-language requirements, English-speaking Alberta officers do not qualify for senior RCMP positions,' states the narration for the video prior to the survey on a provincial police force. Article content The survey doesn't define what constitutes a senior position. Article content In a statement to Postmedia, the National Police Federation (NPF) president and CEO Brian Sauvé challenged the survey's claim. Article content 'As we've seen previously, the government of Alberta continues to mislead Albertans about the benefits of the Alberta RCMP,' he said. Article content Article content 'In its campaign, the government falsely claims that English-only members are barred from advancing to any senior ranks tied to government requirements. Unfortunately, this is yet another instance of the province spreading misinformation.' Article content The NPF is Canada's largest police union, representing 20,000 RCMP members, and has also been a longtime opponent of a potential provincial police force. Article content 'The National Police Federation is wrong,' reads a statement from Ellis's office. 'The RCMP has previously confirmed that all deputy and assistant commissioner positions in Ottawa are designated bilingual, as are senior positions held by civilians within senior staff.'
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
RCMP union challenges bilingualism claim in province's Alberta Next survey
The union representing RCMP officers is disputing that its members do not have the opportunity to advance to senior roles unless they speak French, as claimed in the preamble to a new Alberta government survey. On Wednesday, Premier Danielle Smith launched the province's 15-member Alberta Next panel along with corresponding online engagement questionnaires. The panel is seeking feedback on measures Alberta could pursue to further assert itself against the federal government, with an initial focus on an Alberta pension plan, tax collection, immigration, constitutional changes, federal transfers including equalization, and a provincial police force. The panel's website has individual polls for each of those issues that can only be taken following a short animated video. 'Because of French-language requirements, English-speaking Alberta officers do not qualify for senior RCMP positions,' states the narration for the video prior to the survey on a provincial police force. The survey doesn't define what constitutes a senior position. In a statement to Postmedia, the National Police Federation (NPF) president and CEO Brian Sauvé challenged the survey's claim. 'As we've seen previously, the government of Alberta continues to mislead Albertans about the benefits of the Alberta RCMP,' he said. 'In its campaign, the government falsely claims that English-only members are barred from advancing to any senior ranks tied to government requirements. Unfortunately, this is yet another instance of the province spreading misinformation.' The NPF is Canada's largest police union, representing 20,000 RCMP members, and has also been a longtime opponent of a potential provincial police force. The office of Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis responded to those remarks by saying the union was mistaken. 'The National Police Federation is wrong,' reads a statement from Ellis's office. 'The RCMP has previously confirmed that all deputy and assistant commissioner positions in Ottawa are designated bilingual, as are senior positions held by civilians within senior staff.' It goes on to note prior media reporting that the Mounties had to implement new measures to ensure that current and prospective senior managers were bilingual. The statement did not address questions about the future of French-language policing in Alberta. The RCMP told Postmedia that bilingualism requirements for certain roles are not so simple, and vary by region. 'Alberta is designated as a unilingual region for language-of-work purposes, and the vast majority of senior leadership positions in Alberta are identified as English-essential,' said RCMP in an email. The statement adds that of the 3,691 bilingual regular member job positions across Canada, 142 of those roles are located in Alberta, and that there are currently 321 bilingual regular members in Alberta-based K-Division in Edmonton. The Alberta government has worked to establish the groundwork for a province-wide police agency, most recently through changes to the Police Act, which states the new service would be a Crown corporation operating at arm's-length from the province. In 2022, Canada's languages commissioner wrote to Alberta Justice seeking assurances about the preservation of French-language policing in the province should it drop the RCMP, according to an internal briefing note which reads, 'if Alberta creates its own provincial police service, the RCMP would be replaced by a police force that will no longer have the obligation to offer services in French.' According to the 2021 federal census, 261,435 Albertans were able to conduct a conversation in French with just over 88,000 Alberta residents identifying French as their mother tongue. mblack@ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National Police Federation Releases New Report Calling for Renewed Federal Commitment to Strengthen and Modernize the RCMP
OTTAWA, Ontario, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the National Police Federation (NPF) released RCMP Facing the Future: Evolution, Integration, Readiness a forward-looking report that outlines a practical and achievable path forward to strengthen Canada's national police service while preserving the RCMP's integrated and cost-effective benefits and model. The report was launched at a Parliamentary breakfast earlier today, with various government officials in attendance and engaging in dialogue on the RCMP's future. For over a century, the RCMP has been at the heart of public safety, delivering coordinated, full-spectrum policing across federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal jurisdictions as well as Indigenous policing and international supports. Its integrated model is a uniquely Canadian solution to the challenges of vast geography, complex threats, and increasingly diverse communities. Fifteen years after the Senate's Toward a Red Serge Revival report addressed concerns about the RCMP's capacity and sustainability, many of the same issues persist today — not due to a lack of insight or recommendations, but because of limited, inconsistent follow-through by successive governments. Independent reports, commissions, and reviews over nearly two decades have repeatedly outlined practical steps to modernize recruitment, enhance training, improve procurement, and stabilize federal policing, yet political will and sustained investment have often fallen short. The NPF's new report builds on these long-standing recommendations and highlights thirteen recommendations, offering a clear, actionable path forward for Prime Minister Carney's government to deliver on the reforms needed to strengthen Canada's national police service. 'Public safety is not a partisan issue, and it cannot be sustainably delivered when resourcing is reactive, inconsistent, or politicized,' said Brian Sauvé, President of the National Police Federation. 'We acknowledge and welcome recent commitments by the federal government, including the promise of 1,000 new RCMP Members and an increase to the Cadet Training Allowance, but now we need to see action. The NPF has been advocating for these reforms for years. With a clear roadmap in front of them, this new government has a real opportunity to move from promise to progress and ensure the RCMP is properly equipped to serve Canadians today and into the future.' Key recommendations include: Fund Quality Policing: Chronic underfunding could be alleviated by increased resources coupled with targeted reform such as flexible resource allocation within jurisdictions, improved cost recovery mechanisms, streamlined contract management and fenced funding for federal policing. Recruitment & Training: The RCMP's recruitment pipeline remains too slow and sequential, losing quality applicants to other police services and does not meet modern policing demands. It must modernize its process and adopt a more agile Canadian Armed Forces-style approach, add differentiated training streams to meet modern policing demands and Cadet training allowances must be increased to remain competitive. Equipment Procurement: The federal procurement process is hampered by excessive red tape and unresponsive to the urgent needs of modern policing and drains valuable government resources. Delays in rolling out life-saving equipment, including service pistols, body armour, and body-worn cameras threaten both officer safety and public trust. We call on the federal government to: Confirm its commitment to contract policing beyond 2032. Deliver on their commitment to increase RCMP personnel and increase Cadet Training Allowance. Bolster federal policing resources and capabilities. Modernize recruitment, training, and equipment delivery; and support a stronger, more efficient RCMP. 'We have a tried and tested model, dedicated Members, and clear recommendations. What we need now is a government willing to act, so that the RCMP can meet the evolving challenges of modern-day policing.' added Sauvé. The full report is available at: About the National Police Federation: The National Police Federation (NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. We are the largest police union in Canada. The NPF is focused on improving public safety for all Canadians, including our Members, by advocating for much-needed investment in the public safety continuum. This includes investments in police resourcing and modern equipment, as well as social programs including health, addiction, and housing supports to enhance safety and livability in the many communities we serve, large and small, across Canada. For more information: Follow us:NPF: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Media contact:Sarah KavanaghAdvisor, Media Relations Media@ 604-842-6864Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Media Statement: Grande Prairie Policing Transition Costs Climb Again: All Albertans Footing the Bill for a Politically Driven Agenda
EDMONTON, Alberta, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following is a statement from Brian Sauvé, President and CEO of the National Police Federation, in response to Government of Alberta's announcement of an additional $7 million contribution toward Grande Prairie's municipal police transition: "The Province's announcement of an additional $7 million in provincial taxpayer funding to support the creation of a local police service in Grande Prairie brings the total provincial contributions to nearly $17 million. This almost fully covers the City's estimated $19 million transition costs. These funds come not from the City's budget, but from the pockets of Alberta taxpayers. This decision underscores the provincial government's ongoing and politically driven push to dismantle RCMP policing in Alberta at any cost, despite earlier failed attempts to convince the public. When that failed, they turned to incentivizing individual municipalities to make the switch, using provincial money to do it. This preferential and political approach is in sharp contrast to how the Province has treated hundreds of other communities under the Police Funding Model. In 2020, the Province started requiring rural municipalities and small towns to pay more of their frontline policing costs, now up to 30%, and slated to rise to 39% in 2025. That increase has been temporarily paused for one year while the Province renegotiates the funding model, but these communities still face rising costs with no guarantees of improved policing, no local input, and no clear accounting for where their dollars go. Many community leaders have rightly asked where this money is being spent, as little to no reinvestment has occurred in their communities. Instead, Police Funding Model-collected funds appear to be diverted into provincial political pet projects: feasibility studies, municipal transitions, and the expansion of the Alberta Sheriffs. All this at a time when the Province of Alberta is already facing a multi-billion-dollar deficit. With the emergence of another new policing initiative with no consultation — the Independent Alberta Police Service — Albertans are left asking: 'Is Police Funding Model money also being used to fund this?' There has been no transparency, no consultation, and no evidence that these decisions are in the best interest of public safety or fiscal responsibility. Instead of dividing and duplicating police services, the Government of Alberta should be focused on investing equitably in proven frontline capacity, including in the Alberta RCMP which continues to serve all Albertans with professionalism, dedication, and deep community roots. Albertans deserve a policing system based on evidence, fairness, and accountability, not backroom deals and political motives.' About the National Police Federation: The National Police Federation (NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. It is the largest police union in Canada. We are focused on improving public safety in Canada for our Members and all Canadians by advocating for investment in policing and other related supports and services. This includes calling for required resourcing, equipment, and supports to enhance community safety and livability in the communities we serve, large and small, across Canada. For more information: and Follow us:NPF: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and InstagramKeepAlbertaRCMP: Facebook, Twitter Media Contact: Sarah KavanaghAdvisor, Media RelationsMedia@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Media Statement: National Police Federation Concerned About Province's Unwanted, Expensive Proposed New Police Service in New Bill 49
EDMONTON, Alberta, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following is a statement from Brian Sauvé, President and CEO of the National Police Federation, in response to the Government of Alberta's introduction of Bill 49, announcing new steps towards the creation of an independent provincial police service: 'We are deeply concerned that the Government of Alberta is once again pushing forward with a costly, unproven provincial police model, this time under a new name, without transparency, consultation, or a clear financial plan. Rather than investing in the nearly 3,500 RCMP Members who provide effective and committed police services across 99% of Alberta, the Province is choosing to funnel precious taxpayer dollars into the new Independent Agency Police Service (IAPS), a project Albertans and municipalities have already rejected. Alberta provincial police service, which failed, had start-up costs at $372 million, plus an additional $164 million each year in operating costs. This was in 2021, before record inflation and rising operational expenses. With Alberta now projecting a deficit exceeding $5 billion announced in Budget 2025, it is fiscally irresponsible to pursue a politicized project that undertakes a major restructuring of public safety without a detailed cost analysis or public mandate. The lack of information about the IAPS indicates how expensive it will be for Albertans. Based on known policing reviews and transition estimates, converting roughly 600 Sheriffs into fully trained police officers could cost: Salary Upgrades: $29.36M (to match First Class Constable salaries) Training: $5.4M (to meet Alberta Policing Standards) Uniforms, gear, and pistols per officer: $7.8M New or retrofitted vehicles: $140,000 each (fully outfitted police vehicles) Body-worn Cameras: $1.8M Infrastructure upgrades: Estimated at $32M from the failed Alberta provincial police service (building upgrades, leases, and related costs) Other costs: Significant costs for upgraded IT/IM, dispatch systems, legal services and indemnification, specialized equipment and vehicles, oversight, and administrative support This is only a partial list of estimated costs. There is no clarity on whether these costs will be borne provincially or downloaded into municipalities. But either way, there is only one taxpayer- and that's every Albertan. The Province often touts the Grande Prairie transition as a success, but fails to mention the $9.4M in provincial funding, with a promise of more in the future, was provided to support that transition: an amount not guaranteed to other municipalities. Will taxpayers in Calgary, Edmonton, or Lethbridge be expected to subsidize police transitions elsewhere? Recent Pollara Strategic Insights polling from June 2024 confirmed that 77% of Albertans in RCMP-served communities remain satisfied with the policing services they receive; 86% of all Albertans want to retain the RCMP and 87% want a detailed accounting of the costs and impacts prior to any changes. In repeated waves of research since 2020, the vast majority of Albertans have been clear: they want to see investment in their RCMP Members and are not interested in replacing the RCMP with other policing services. Every dollar spent on restructuring is a dollar taken from frontline services like crime prevention, enforcement, and victim support. It's time the government listened to Albertans and invested in enhancing—not replacing—the Alberta RCMP.' About the National Police Federation: The National Police Federation (the NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. We are the largest police union in Canada. The NPF is focused on improving public safety for all Canadians, including our Members by advocating for much-needed investment in the public safety continuum. This includes investments in police resourcing and modern equipment, as well as social programs including health, addiction, and housing supports to enhance safety and livability in the many communities we serve, large and small, across Canada. For more information: Follow us:NPF: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Media Contact Sarah KavanaghAdvisor, Media Relationsmedia@ 842-6864Sign in to access your portfolio
