Albertans should seek fiscal responsibility answers
By Lethbridge Herald on January 8, 2026.
Editor,
Albertans are repeatedly told that fiscal responsibility requires restraint and tough choices. If that is true, then replacing the RCMP with a provincial police force demands a serious business case—not slogans.
Under the current RCMP contract‑policing model, Alberta receives between $250 and $300 million per year in federal funding. If the province exits that arrangement, that funding disappears permanently and must be replaced by provincial taxpayers. This is not hypothetical. It is an immediate and recurring loss.
Over ten years, that equals $2.5 to $3.0 billion in lost federal support, before inflation, wage growth, or population pressures are even considered. On top of that are hundreds of millions of dollars in one‑time transition costs for infrastructure, information systems, training, vehicles, and administration.
The government has not clearly explained where this money will come from. The Pricewaterhouse report cited in support of this proposal is not an affordability or cost‑benefit analysis and does not account for the lost federal funding.
If you think these concerns are misplaced, do your own research—these figures are publicly available and easily verified. Then ask your local MLA three simple questions:
1. Where will the $250–$300 million per year be replaced from?
2. What services will be cut, or what taxes increased, to pay for this?
3. Why is this approach preferable to investing directly in recruitment and retention within the existing system?
If your MLA cannot answer these questions clearly, Albertans should reasonably question whether they are being responsibly represented—and whether this decision serves the public interest or a political one.
Fiscal responsibility requires answers.
John Laforest, Lethbridge
13-12
UCP D. Smith wants her own little police state, the financial cost means nothing to her as been proven by the big mistakes she has made.
Coal mining in the CNP, AHS, the teachers’ strike, the drivers’ licensing fiasco. etc…
How do you sleep at night. You know zilch about policing.
How about we sue you for $10 million so we can sleep at night, would you like to try? While no one agrees with anything you idiots say but you aren’t smart enough to understand it, are you? Whats it like to be that stupid?
We have had some interesting talks with young Albertans since Christmas. They state that they are so fed up with these idiots, senior family members, refusing to show them any respect and believe the concerns they have with these massive debts that they have helped these Reformers create for their future that they refused to allow them to attend any family gathering at Christmas that’s how stupid it’s become.
Federal laws, I&P, NCA, CDA, money laundering, Chinese election interference, international drug cartels will be investigated by the federal RCMP. Removing these responsibilities from those currently handing out tickets in Castor Alberta will reduce the cost. Those wishing to stay will stay, and those wishing to stay in the RCMP will be transferred to major centres. Most importantly, responsibility for an APP will be in Edmonton or Calgary and not being fed pablum by the white shirts who are in Ottawa once they run it by the PM of the day.
Mr. Buckwheat. Thank you for setting record for those who prefer socialist government. You do not want it, nobody else in world, why some in Alberta want communist type government to control and own everything. You own nothing and you will like it. Who are these people. Nobody liked it where it was tryed.
This is a puzzle.
Way to go, Sikorsky you do a mediocre impersonation of a Russian texting in broken English. Try harder at another persona!