At a Glance - Week of December 22, 2025
Updated Rural Policing Funding Model
The Alberta government is updating its rural policing funding model, intended to make costs more predictable and sustainable for small communities. Under the revised model, municipalities will gradually increase their share of front-line policing costs from 22 per cent in 2026-27 to 30 per cent over five years. The changes respond to rising policing expenses driven by inflation, RCMP collective agreements, and expanded staffing needs.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, commented: “Municipalities told us the police funding model needs to be predictable, transparent and easy to understand. Costs have outpaced the original formula, meaning communities currently pay less than their intended share. As policing costs continue to rise, funding front-line policing remains a shared responsibility between the province and municipalities. These updates align municipal contributions with current costs and ensure every dollar collected goes directly to front-line policing in rural communities.”
New Supports for Family Violence Survivors
The province has introduced a Family Violence Court Liaison program designed to support individuals navigating the justice system after experiencing family violence. The initiative provides free, trauma-informed assistance to help survivors manage court processes while reducing duplication, confusion, and emotional strain. The program also includes safety screening and referrals to community and social supports.
“Supporting survivors and all those impacted by family violence where and when they need it is a core pillar of our government’s comprehensive plan to end gender-based violence. By helping survivors navigate the justice system and providing critical wraparound services, we can ensure women and families are kept safe and get the coordinated care they deserve,” commented Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Tanya Fir.
Child Care Agreement Extended
The Alberta and federal governments have agreed to extend the current child care agreement by one year. The extension maintains $15-a-day child care for children from infancy to kindergarten and preserves savings of up to $100 per month for preschool programs. Both governments cover approximately 80 per cent of costs, saving families an estimated $11,000 per child annually.
“This extension is great news for Alberta families. It means parents will keep saving thousands of dollars, and more child-care spaces will be available in communities that need them most. Alberta’s government remains committed to working with our federal partners to secure a long-term deal that reflects Alberta’s needs and priorities,” stated Minister of Education and Childcare, Demetrios Nicolaides.
Alberta Increases Petition Fee from $500 to $25,000
The Government of Alberta has amended Section 2 of the Citizen Initiative Act to increase the application fee for citizen-led referendum petitions from $500 to $25,000. Petitions previously filed under the former rules may still proceed under the $500 fee if they are resubmitted within 30 days of the legislation taking effect. The amendment does not apply to recall petitions, which fall under the Recall Act.
The Justice Ministry’s Press Secretary, Heather Jenkins, stated: “Increasing the citizen initiative petition application fee set out in the Citizen Initiative Regulation will ensure that only applicants with serious interest in proposing a legislative initiative, policy initiative or constitutional referendum question apply.”