Alberta expands policing powers, strengthens Clare’s Law protections

Alberta is expanding provincial policing powers, streamlining domestic violence disclosures and modernizing inmate transfer rules under new public safety legislation.

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Alberta is expanding provincial policing powers, streamlining domestic violence disclosures and modernizing inmate transfer rules under new public safety legislation.

Bill 4, the omnibus Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), introduced Thursday by Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis, builds on the province’s plan for a made-in-Alberta policing model. It also improves information sharing for domestic violence prevention and clarifies inmate transfer rules.

“This legislation strengthens the laws that keep Albertans safe,” Ellis said. “It builds a strong foundation for the new Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, ensures people at risk of domestic violence can quickly get the information they need to protect themselves and modernizes how our correctional system operates. Together, these changes reflect our government’s commitment to practical, common-sense improvements that make Alberta’s communities safer.”

Following the formal establishment of the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service (ASPS) in July 2025, the legislation outlines a new labour relations framework. The ASPS will function as an independent provincial police service designed to complement existing law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP, First Nations police services and municipal forces. It is intended to give municipalities another option for their policing needs.

The RCMP will continue to serve as Alberta’s primary provincial police force while the ASPS develops operational capacity.

Ellis told True North that at the provincial-territorial meeting, he learned that Manitoba was 30 per cent short of its authorized strength level, while Saskatchewan was 25 per cent short. He said Alberta hovers between 16 and 20 per cent short.

“I can’t wait for the RCMP to figure out how they’re going to recruit, how they’re going to train, how they’re going to fulfil the authorized strength gaps they have all throughout Canada,” he said. “My concern is that when somebody calls 9-1-1, my expectation is that somebody shows up to that call.”

He also told True North that Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has told the provinces that “he is open to any and all discussions.”

The bill ensures ASPS officers fall under the Police Officers Collective Bargaining Act, giving them the same rights as municipal officers to form associations and bargain collectively. The framework also allows professional discipline to remain outside collective bargaining under the Police Act and establishes binding arbitration to resolve disputes.

It also expands eligibility to allow permanent residents to serve as ASPS officers, broadening the recruitment pool and aligning Alberta’s standards with those of municipal services. Alberta implemented a permanent resident pathway for police officers last July.

ASPS officers will be included in workers’ compensation presumptions for psychological injuries, and their families will qualify for the Alberta Heroes’ Fund for First Responders, which provides a one-time $100,000 payment when an officer dies in the line of duty.

“The Alberta Sheriffs Police Service is being built to strengthen public safety across Alberta,” said ASPS Chief Sat Parhar. “This legislation marks another important step in creating a modern, accountable police service that Albertans and communities can rely on.”

The legislation also enhances the Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence (Clare’s Law) Act by giving the Integrated Threat and Risk Assessment Centre (ITRAC) clear legal authority to access and disclose police information during threat assessments.

Clare’s Law allows Albertans at risk of domestic violence to request — or be proactively given — information from police about a partner’s history of violence, stalking or harassment, helping them make informed choices about their safety.

The Alberta government said the amendments to Clare’s Law would reduce red tape, minimize delays, and make sharing information easier between police and citizens.

“Every Albertan deserves a life free from the threat of domestic violence,” said Kim Ruse, CEO of FearIsNotLove Calgary. “Alberta’s government is not only cutting red tape, but it is also ensuring that people at risk get faster, more reliable safety information to make life-saving decisions.”

The bill also amends the Corrections Act to give Alberta clear authority to negotiate inmate transfers with other provinces and territories. The changes are intended to improve coordination and allow transfers during emergencies like wildfires or when offenders have legal matters in other jurisdictions.

“The proposed amendments would explicitly provide the authority for Alberta to negotiate, implement, and operationalize interjurisdictional transfer agreements for all adult inmates,” reads the proposed amendment.

According to the province, the reforms align Alberta’s correctional system with practices across Canada and are part of the government’s broader commitment to strengthening public safety through practical and efficient reforms.