by Talking to Albertans
«In this video, I’m breaking down what really controls policing in Alberta — and why it should concern every Canadian paying attention to issues like public safety, government accountability, and provincial autonomy.
I’m reading directly from The Value of Freedom, a fully costed business plan for Alberta independence, and analyzing what it says about policing, funding, and who actually holds authority over law enforcement in this province.
If you want to read the document yourself, you can access it here:
👉 https://www.albertaprosperityproject....
This document outlines how Alberta already funds a significant portion of its own policing, with estimates suggesting that roughly 10–30% of policing costs currently flow through the federal government. But that money doesn’t come from nowhere. It comes from Albertans paying into the federal system. The argument presented is that if Alberta were independent, those funds would remain in the province rather than being sent to Ottawa and redistributed. This raises major questions about whether Alberta could actually see a net financial gain under an independent model, and whether current cost estimates fully account for the realities of building and maintaining a provincial police force.
Beyond the financial discussion, this video explores the much bigger issue of control. Right now, the RCMP operates as a federal police force, ultimately answering to decision-makers in Ottawa. That creates a disconnect between the people being policed and the institutions making the decisions. In a province like Alberta, with unique economic drivers, rural crime challenges, and resource sector pressures, this centralized control model raises serious concerns about whether local needs are truly being prioritized.
This is why the idea of an Alberta provincial police force continues to gain traction. Local control could mean faster response times, better alignment with community priorities, and policing strategies that actually reflect the realities on the ground in Alberta. Whether within Canada or as part of an independent Alberta, the concept of decentralizing law enforcement is becoming a major topic in conversations around Alberta sovereignty and governance reform.
Accountability is another key issue. When law enforcement is controlled at a federal level, it becomes harder for everyday citizens to influence outcomes or demand change. Decision-making gets filtered through layers of bureaucracy, making it difficult for Albertans to hold institutions accountable when problems arise. Local control could bring that accountability closer to home, increasing transparency and making it easier for the public to demand answers.
This conversation also touches on growing concerns around organized crime and large-scale drug trafficking in Canada. The scale and persistence of these operations suggest systemic challenges that go far beyond isolated incidents. It raises important questions about enforcement effectiveness, institutional oversight, and whether current policing structures are equipped to deal with the realities of modern criminal networks.
To ground this in a real-world example, I reference a case where multiple police officers were charged in connection with organized crime activity, including allegations tied to drug trafficking and murder plots. You can read that article here:
👉 https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/...
Cases like this highlight the importance of strong oversight systems and reinforce the argument that policing institutions must be subject to real accountability mechanisms, not just internal review processes.
This leads into a broader discussion about whether Canada needs a truly independent body whose sole purpose is to investigate police misconduct, corruption, and abuse of power. Right now, many investigations are conducted internally or through oversight bodies that may lack full independence. A dedicated, independent institution focused on policing the police could play a critical role in restoring public trust and ensuring transparency.
I also reflect on events during the trucker protests in Ottawa, including the widely discussed incident involving RCMP horses and an Indigenous woman, and how moments like that have shaped public perception of policing and government authority in Canada. Court rulings later found that certain government actions during that time violated Canadians’ rights, yet many people feel there has been little meaningful accountability.
This video is not just about policing policy.
It’s about who holds power, who makes decisions, and who answers when things go wrong.
💬 What do you think?
Should Alberta have its own police force?»