EDMONTON – Groups across Alberta are cautioning the province against ditching the RCMP and creating its own police force.

Justice Minister Kaycee Madu said Friday that an Alberta police force would give the province more flexibility to respond to rural crime, as he released a third-party report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

That report outlined it would cost Alberta about $735 million each year to operate its police force, in addition to a projected $366 million in startup costs.

According to the review, it costs Alberta about $500 million annually to pay for the RCMP. The federal government provides $170 million through a cost-sharing agreement to offload some costs.

Currently, the province has 1,480 Mounties that police rural areas, First Nations, and communities that do not have municipal forces.

“I’m still uncertain as to what is the problem the province is trying to solve by proposing a provincial police force,” said Tanya Thorn, Okotoks mayor and Alberta Urban Municipalities Association board member.

“I don’t understand why we need to create a whole new structure to solve a problem we’re already working on, and we’ve seen improvements on.”

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Curtis Zablocki, head of the Mounties in Alberta, said they look forward to hearing and acting on what Albertans have to say.

“We know that Albertans want an active role in community safety and in deciding how their policing services are provided,” Zablocki said.

In Thorn’s view, a provincial police force is a cost municipalities cannot afford to bear.

“If it’s not giving us better value, if it’s not allowing us to increase service levels to our residents, why would we take on more costs?”

Irfan Sabir, justice critic for the Opposition NDP, said Madu is misleading Albertans by suggesting a new police service would be cost-neutral. Sabir warned there would be a tax increase to pay for it.

“The report clearly states it will cost more,” Sabir said.

Madu said he believes the government could fund the police force and would not seek additional money from municipalities.

“We do have a responsibility beyond the monetary implications to defend and pursue our province’s best interests,” he added.

“Ontario has done this. Quebec has done this. Newfoundland and Labrador has done this. And I think the time has come for our province to do the same.”

For Marlene Poitras, Assembly of First Nations Alberta regional chief, a provincial police force would not solve issues facing Indigenous Albertans.

Three First Nations have their own police forces in Alberta, something Poitras believes is a better approach.

“First Nations know what the issues are, they’re the experts in their communities as to what will work and what won’t work,” Poitras added. “It’s critical that First Nations are involved in these discussions at the outset.

“A lot of the First Nations are working on developing their own nationhood and asserting their jurisdiction and authority,” she said. “The federal government will be moving toward consulting with First Nations on developing legislation developing First Nations policing as an essential service.”

On Friday, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam said that Treaty 8 rejects the provincial police force idea the province is contemplating.

Alberta’s contract with the RCMP ends in 2032. The province says it wants to survey the public next year about what they think about a provincial police force.

“They’re not listening to what they’re being told already,” Thorn said. “From our members with AUMA, there’s a 90 per cent response that we do not want to shift.”

Kevin Zahara, Edson’s mayor, sent a letter to Madu stating the town’s opposition to an Alberta police force.

“We have worked hard as a municipality to build a strong working relationship with our local RCMP Detachment,” Zahara wrote. “They are our partners and an integral part of our community. We are happy with the level of service our RCMP provide.”

The mayor added that Edson would prefer to see the funds the province is currently using to research creating a police force to augment the partnership with the RCMP.

“The Province repeatedly encourages municipalities to work with each other and come up with new and collaborative ways to provide programs and services to our residents in a cost-effective manner,” Zahara said.

“We implore your Government (Madu) to do the same and work with your Federal counterparts to achieve the Province’s goals related to the RCMP and Policing and to emulate the principles in which they ask of municipal governments within the Province.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson and The Canadian Press’ Dean Bennett

EDMONTON – An Edmonton Oil Kings defenceman announced a new initiative to help raise money and awareness about the importance of mental health that experts are applauding.

Luke Prokop will donate $10 to Kids Help Phone for every shot on goal he records during the regular season.

Last year, Kids Help Phone connected with 4.6 million young people through phone, text, and self-directed online tools to help in moments of crisis or need.

According to the national non-profit e-mental health service, more than 4,200 lives were saved through active rescues in 2020 and 51 per cent of young people who reached out by text this year identified as LGBTQ2S+.

Prokop’s donations will be matched by the Oil Kings through the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.

In a media availability on Friday, Prokop said the partnership just made sense to him.

“They do a great service for the community,” he said. “Kids Help Phone just provides youth, and not only youth but adults, a great support system if they ever need it to talk to someone.

“You can just dial a quick phone number and they are there to talk you through whatever you need.”

Prokop says he hopes the partnership allows for more space to talk about mental health.

“It’s good for the game of hockey,” he added. “Hopefully, it just makes it a little bit more of a comfortable space for individuals that are thinking of coming out as well.”

The Nashville Predators prospect is the first active player under NHL contract to come out as gay.

“It has been quite the journey to get to this point in my life, but I could not be happier with my decision to come out,” Prokop wrote in July in an Instagram post.

“From a young age I have dreamed of being an NHL player, and I believe that living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink and improve my chances of fulfilling my dreams.

MORE THAN JUST A FUNDRAISER

Dr. Ganz Ferrance, registered psychologist, told CTV News Edmonton that while some may see this as a simple charity campaign, Prokop’s announcement will mean a lot more to many young people.

He says it shows Prokop is serious about mental health and that is an important message to promote.

“I think it’s extremely important,” Ferrance said. “It’s also great that (Prokop) is able to show their other human side.

“Anybody who is in the public eye, talking about these things and being open about their own experiences, really can help people to know that it’s okay and smart to reach out for help.”

Registered psychologist Dr. Brent Macdonald echoed those sentiments.

“When you open a dialogue of mental wellness, you open it to everyone,” Macdonald said. “The broader the net we cast, the more hope we get the message to more people.”

Macdonald said that Prokop’s announcement, in light of Montreal Canadiens’ goalie Carey Price entering the NHL’s player assistance program and stepping away from the game, shows a gradual change in an old narrative of sucking up, or being a ‘tough guy’ in sport.

“The more that we see and hear these stories, the more that it becomes acceptable for youth and for athletes, in general, to feel comfortable to say, “You know I have areas that I need to work on that aren’t gonna be on the ice or playing field.’

“If they see that as being normalized, it makes life feel a lot more positive for them,” Macdonald added.

He offered a hockey metaphor of a player needing to work on stick-handling or passing.

“If there’s a skill you need to work on, you practice,” Macdonald said. “You don’t just pretend it doesn’t exist. You have to work on it, and that’s something that mental health, mental wellness all tie into.”

Ferrance agreed, adding that Prokop or Price can act as role models to a new generation of athletes or people who follow the game.

“When you see somebody else doing it all of a sudden, it makes it okay or cool to do it yourself, and so things sort of pick up momentum,” Ferrance said.

“I never believe that people should just shut up and play, or shut up and sing, or anything,” he added, “because, in that way, we really disrespect them and not see them as a full human being. We are all human beings.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Ryan Harding

EDMONTON – RCMP are investigating an incident where a man impersonated a police officer and pulled over a vehicle in Grande Prairie, Alta., on Friday.

Mounties received a complaint about the incident at approximately 9:45 p.m.

A driver turned westbound onto 116 Avenue from 92 Street when an older model white Ford Explorer flashed red and blue LED lights above their dashboard.

After the driver pulled over to the side of the road, the suspect impersonating a police officer approached the driver’s side.

RCMP say he told the driver the incident was a joke.

As the complainant drove away, they noticed the suspect followed them for a “short time” before turning northbound on Lakeland Drive.

The police officer impersonator is described as being approximately 18 to 20 years old, having a dark complexion with a tall athletic build, and wore a short sleeve uniform shirt with a police badge on a gold chain.

“Citizens are reminded that they can request identification from anyone identifying themselves as a police officer,” RCMP said in a statement. “When doing so, citizens can request to see the officer’s police badge as well as a police photo identification card which includes a photo of the officer, their name, date of birth and badge number.

“Citizens can also call the police non-emergency number to verify an officer’s identity.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. 

Grande Prairie is approximately 456 kilometres northwest of Edmonton at the intersection of Highways 43 and 40.

EDMONTON – The playoff picture is coming into better focus for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Jeremiah Masoli passed for 357 yards and three touchdowns as the Tiger-Cats clawed back over the .500 mark on the season with a 39-23 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Friday.

“Our receivers are so super-talented. They were just getting open and running away from guys,” Masoli said. “We’ve been building to get to here this whole season.

“It doesn’t matter where we start on that field, we will be able to flip the field. We are building that confidence for the home stretch.”

With the win, the Ticats (6-5) moved into a tie for second place in the CFL’s East Division with Toronto with 12 points.

“An understatement would be that I am proud of this team,” said Hamilton head coach Orlondo Steinauer. “We overcame a lot of adversity tonight. We came out here a little short-handed. Every game is hard to win, period, but with all the stuff and the injuries and whatnot, I am proud of this team. We did a good job in all three phases.”

It was the sixth straight loss overall for the Elks (2-8), who remained winless at home this season, the first time in the storied history of the franchise that they have had an 0-6 start at home. Edmonton’s playoff hopes are now hanging on by a thread.

“We got our butts whooped. They moved the ball at will and we didn’t play well enough consistently. Period,” said Elks defensive halfback Aaron Grymes. “It didn’t feel good, I know it didn’t look good. It also didn’t feel good being out there.”

After the Elks started the game with a punt single, Hamilton came back with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Masoli to Steven Dunbar Jr. six minutes into the opening quarter.

Hamilton continued to move the ball at will and added a 27-yard passing major with three minutes to play in the first as Tim White had a terrific second effort tracking down and catching a ball that had originally bounced off his hands.

The Elks responded with a 34-yard Sean Whyte field goal to open the second, before Tiger-Cats kicker Taylor Bertolet booted a 43-yarder of his own.

With two minutes left in the first half, Masoli unleashed a long bomb for a 65-yard TD to Jaelon Acklin.

A bit of a melee ensued late in the second quarter, resulting in the ejections of Hamilton’s Kameron Kelly for spitting at an opponent and Edmonton’s Jonathan Rose for coming off the bench.

Bertolet added a 25-yard field goal to make it 27-4 at the half.

Whyte opened the third with a 26-yarder, with Hamilton getting a pair of singles on missed kicks in the third before Bertolet was good on a 47-yarder to start the fourth.

Edmonton finally got into the end zone seven minutes into the final frame on a one-yard keeper by backup QB Dakota Prukop, who also added a two-point convert.

With just over two minutes left Hamilton’s Don Jackson weaved his way through the porous Elks defence for a 16-yard TD run.

Prukop pushed his way in for another one-yard touchdown in the final minute for Edmonton, which also got the two-point convert.

Both teams are back in action next Friday as the Tiger-Cats host the B.C. Lions, while the Elks are at home against Saskatchewan.

EDMONTON – Most of Alberta could be in for a spectacular showing of the northern lights this weekend as a solar storm makes its way towards Earth.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a geomagnetic storm watch for Saturday evening to early Sunday morning.

Andy Kale, a research associate in the department of physics at the University of Alberta, told CTV News Edmonton the storm is the result of a large solar flare that occurred Thursday.

“That travels a little bit slower,” Kale said. “That flare should reach us Saturday.”

Kale described the solar flare emission as the sun burping, spewing charged particles that fall to the Earth’s atmosphere causing what we see as the northern lights.

According to the NOAA forecast, the peak of the storm is expected Saturday night and early Sunday morning, with conditions ranging from minor to strong. 

Solar activity is expected to last all weekend, giving opportunities for the aurora to appear Saturday, Sunday, and even Monday night, should conditions align.

“The sun has decided to come trick-or-treating with us,” Kale said, as he laughed.

According to Kale, anyone north of the 50-degree line of latitude — so north of about Medicine Hat, Alta. — has a good chance of seeing the aurora borealis this weekend.

Just two weeks ago Edmontonians were enraptured by the aurora borealis. Kale said that storm was only a G2, with solar storms classified from G1 to G5 — with G5 being the highest.

This weekend could peak as a G3, meaning it could be even more spectacular.

“We’re starting to see solar activity ramping up again,” Kale said. “We’re exiting what we call a solar minimum, a period where solar activity is quiet.

“We’re ramping up now where solar activity should increase and increase.” 

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Ryan Harding