The book 22 Murders is a must read for all Alberta municipal leaders and any other Albertans who are wondering what may have prompted the Alberta government to consider replacing the RCMP with a provincial police force.
The book is a chronology of the mass murders on April 18 and April 19, 2020, in Nova Scotia. The author, Paul Palango, is a retired investigative reporter who provides a detailed bio of all persons he identifies as being connected to this massacre, including the victims, RCMP members, government officials, members of the media, and witnesses.
His dialogue is matter of fact as demonstrated by his research which often comes with some colourful for-instances. Palango freely admits he is not a supporter of the RCMP and is critical of their inability to ensure public safety and preserve life, which is their duty. He does not blame the front-line officers, but rather the broken system which is the RCMP.
This review is not intended to sway your view one way or the other of the RCMP but to provide you with a different perspective than the one you may have. Unfortunately, our provincial government, in a typical government way, provided us with the idea of replacing the RCMP with a provincial police force with no explanation as to why this was being considered, what are the benefits, how will the transition take place, and what will it cost the taxpayer?
I said typical because all levels of government are guilty of doing it this way. Recently, the City of St. Albert did it by introducing a solar farm with few cost details. This approach only irritates and causes mistrust. These ideas were brought forward without consultation or research and were expecting buy-in. This type of willy-nilly approach will never be successful.
Maybe the next time the government brings up the idea of forming a provincial police force similar to Ontario and Quebec, it will be with credible, supportive information.
Ken McMorris, St. Albert
