Edson’s town council has endorsed the Edson RCMP Multi-Year Financial Plan (MYFP) for 2026-2031.
The Town of Edson’s 2026 Operating Budget is still in the development stages and pending approval, so the document has received notional support as projected annual budgets and a resource forecast.
The MYFP currently anticipates increases as shown below:
(Town of Edson/Council agenda)
Town officials say these figures are net to the town and account for the 30 per cent contribution from the federal government.
The RCMP acknowledges various factors outside its control impacting the cost of service delivery in the plan, including inflation and global trade disputes. These challenges have resulted in increased fuel and equipment costs.
Also noted in the MYFP, the Edson detachment is well-resourced with one RCMP member for every 492 residents, while the average for municipalities with less than 10,000 residents is one member per 657.
The plan outlines cost projections over the next five years for factors such as human resources, accommodation, equipment, divisional administration and other direct and indirect costs, special projects and initiatives, and financial summaries and projections.
Following community consultation, RCMP say the operational priorities identified for 2025-26 are:
- Crime reduction: Focusing on property crime in particular, the detachment’s goal is to see a five per cent reduction compared to the previous year.
- Drugs: Officers intend to complete 12 drug investigations where drug related charges are laid or drugs are seized and taken off the streets.
- Police visibility and community relations: Edson RCMP will continue to build relationships throughout the community by aiming to have members attend and participate in 45 community events.
- Road safety: With the abolition of photo radar on provincial highways, the detachment forecasts an increase in speeding violations through town and to address that, will try to conduct 10 speeding operations on the portion of Highway 16 that goes through Edson.
These are similar to last year’s goals, which also focused on reducing property theft, drugs, improving community relations and police visibility, as well as training goals.
Last year (2024-25), the detachment’s goal was to reduce property crime in Edson by five per cent. At the end of 2024, it was up by 17 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. Police say this increase was driven by theft and mischief charges, with staffing challenges and increased homelessness rates during the summer months contributing factors.
Edson RCMP intended to identify and investigate 12 drug files and after three quarters, 29 files were investigated, leading to seven charges.
The community relations goals are on track: officers set a goal of 50 community and police visibility contacts and after three quarters, 31 were completed.
The training goals are also reportedly progressing well. The detachment aimed to see support staff and regular members take at least 15 courses over the year. In the first three quarters, 19 were taken in person or online.
The full MYFP is available in pages 106-139 of the town council agenda.
