The Alberta government is introducing legislation to move the Alberta sheriffs branch into a new provincial police service.
Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said the government will table Bill 15, the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, to transition the sheriffs branch into the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service, or ASPS, which was established last year as a Crown corporation.
If passed, the legislation would allow sheriff peace officers and civilian staff to transfer into the new organization without disrupting current operations. It would also create a pathway for eligible sheriffs to train and qualify as police officers under the Police Act, while others would remain in peace officer roles.
Ellis said Alberta has about 1,200 sheriffs. Roughly half are already performing police-like duties and would need about six weeks of additional training to meet the requirements to become police officers.
He did not provide a total cost for the transition, but said the existing sheriffs branch budget would be moved into the ASPS if the bill passes. He added that sheriffs who become police officers would be paid at police officer rates.
The minister said the immediate focus is on using the ASPS to support and supplement existing police services. Ellis said the province is still in discussions with the federal government about the RCMP funding model, and raised concerns about staffing shortages and rising costs in some municipalities.
He said some smaller communities have complained that RCMP contract costs are becoming difficult to manage. Alberta, he said, wants to provide municipalities with another option.
The bill would also amend existing legislation to ensure enforcement units can continue operating during the transition.