Lloydminster City Council welcomed some of Canada’s highest‑ranking RCMP officers last week, taking part in an in‑person discussion on local, provincial, and federal policing priorities.
“They are prepared to enter into a new municipal policing service agreement that we would fall under in 2032, when the present contract expires,” says Gerald Aalbers, mayor of Lloydminster.
On Friday, May 1 the City hosted Mike Duheme, RCMP Commissioner, alongside Trevor Daroux, RCMP Deputy Commissioner and Alberta “K” Division Commanding Officer, and Robin McNeil, RCMP Assistant Commissioner and Saskatchewan “F” Division Commanding Officer, for a two‑hour roundtable with Mayor and Council.
The conversation focused on a wide range of issues facing Lloydminster’s bi‑provincial community, including municipal RCMP contracts, policing service costs, service standards, and opportunities for enhanced provincial policing support. Council and RCMP leaders also discussed the impact of homelessness on policing, a growing concern in many municipalities.
Speaking about the marshals in Saskatchewan and the sheriffs in Alberta, Aalbers spoke of one of its challenges related to the border city.
“Neither one can travel across (the border). The RCMP can because they are the only federal police service in our country,” says Aalbers in comments to business leaders at the State of the City address.
He commended the RCMP for its work in Lloydminster and area.
“Being located on Highway 16 – a major trade route, I can tell you, if you haven’t followed the news, the RCMP are doing a great job. They have stopped a lot of illicit drugs and illegal items that come through our city. I’m glad we have the RCMP,” says Aalbers, who notes the RCMP brings added resources like forensic services in a homicide, along with K9 services.
Aalbers explains the cost for an RCMP officer is $247,000. This includes, salary, training, vehicles, gear and related equipment. But the cost will go up.
“The union is in negotiation for salaries and benefits and we expect that cost to go up.”
Cost of RCMP
The RCMP contract bill is one of the highest costs in the Lloydminster annual budget. Under the cost‑sharing arrangement, the City of Lloydminster covers about 90 per cent of RCMP policing costs, with the federal government funding the remaining 10 per cent. In the 2025 municipal budget, the city allocated roughly $13.47 million for policing services on both sides of the provincial border. While Alberta contributes $575,030 in grant funding toward policing in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan does not currently provide any targeted police funding.
Bi‑provincial policing agreement
Lloydminster operates under a unique RCMP contract policing arrangement, with the City maintaining a service agreement with the Government of Canada to provide RCMP policing on both sides of the Alberta‑Saskatchewan border within city limits.
Under the agreement, policing costs are set by provincial divisions and the federal government, based on service levels and local staffing decisions made by the City.
Lloydminster works closely with local RCMP leadership and provincial divisions to review policing costs, community trends, and vacancy rates when making staffing and budgeting decisions.
