Alberta picks two new Edmonton police commissioners amid probe sparked by chief’s complaint of ‘bias’ in city appointees

Alberta public safety minister Mike Ellis has named two new members to the Edmonton Police Commission, at a time when he is investigating city council’s appointment process following complaints from the city’s police chief.

Ellis earlier this month appointed developer Mike Saunders and Stantec communications director Jessica Jacobs-Mino as police commissioners, who in addition to overseeing the Edmonton Police Service will be responsible for selecting Chief Dale McFee’s replacement when McFee leaves to head up the Alberta public service Feb. 21.

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Ellis’s press secretary Arthur Green said while the minister can hold an open competition to fill spots on the commission, both Saunders and Jacobs-Mino were direct appointments.

The news comes after McFee took the unprecedented step of asking Ellis to investigate Edmonton city council’s appointment of two commissioners — Renée Vaugeois and Dan Jones — who McFee claims should be disqualified for what he believes to be anti-police bias.

EPS asked the minister to look into the “increasingly dysfunctional” relationship between council, commission and police service, as well as how “two individuals with such obvious and egregious conflicts of interest and lack of the necessary independence … could have made it through the City of Edmonton’s vetting process.”

Jones, a former EPS officer turned academic, resigned from the commission in the wake of the request, saying he did not want to be a distraction.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi did not respond to a request for comment on the latest provincial appointments, but earlier said it is “very problematic” for oversight bodies when “people that they are supposed to oversee can lodge an investigation about them (with) the minister.”

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‘Playing politics’

The Alberta government gave itself the power in 2022 to appoint members to police commissions in Edmonton and Calgary, citing new provincial spending to address crime and disorder in the province’s two biggest cities. Edmonton’s commission was previously made up of entirely council appointees, as well as a pair of city councillors.

With Jones’ resignation and the appointment of Saunders and Jacobs-Mino — who previously worked as a provincial press secretary — there are now five provincial and six city appointees on the commission, as well as city councillors Anne Stevenson and Jo-Anne Wright. The Police Act allows the province to appoint just under half a commission’s members.

Coun. Michael Janz defended the city’s appointment process and criticized the minister’s use of direct appointments. He argued against having “any” provincial appointees on the commission, saying it undermines trust the commission will operate as a politically neutral governance board.

Janz took no issue with the latest appointees, rather the process.

“The vast majority of policing is paid for by Edmonton taxpayers,” he said. “If the minister has concerns about public safety, he’s always welcome to amend the Police Act. The minister has the power to change the legislation for all policing in Alberta.”

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“To interfere unilaterally in one jurisdiction like this is suspicious. I think it has people wondering if the minister is playing politics with policing.”

Janz noted John McDougall — the former chair who stepped aside amid criticism of his plan to finish his term remotely from Portugal — was previously reappointed by the province after serving out his term as a city appointee. Anne-Marie Lambert — who council did not renew — was reappointed by the province after McFee criticized the city’s move not to extend her term.

City process ‘open, transparent and inclusive’: councillor

Coun. Andrew Knack called the city’s process for appointing to agencies, boards and commissions “extremely thorough” and said it “should serve as a bit of a model.”

“The minister’s allowed to do whatever the minister wants,” he said. “But I think if the average person were to look at the two processes, I would much rather stand behind the process we use at the city, which is designed to be open and encourage everyone to be a part of it.”

“We have an open process. We put out a call to all Edmontonians to encourage them to apply, to submit an application, to submit letters of reference.”

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Applicants are then shortlisted and undergo interviews, either with all of council, or a council committee with the organization’s chairperson, Knack said.

Knack added his issue is not with the specific people appointed.

“No matter people’s view of the process, we shouldn’t at all call into question their commitment and their dedication, and I’m very confident the people who’ve been appointed (are) going to do their best to serve in that role.”

Coun. Keren Tang echoed Knack, saying council’s process is intended to bring out people with “diverse perspectives.”

“That to me is a very open, transparent and inclusive process, and I think that’s a better way to do these kinds of appointments.”

Green said the provincial government “is responsible for ensuring adequate and effective policing across the province and provincial appointees help us fulfil that obligation.”

“The minister may select the manner of recruitment, including reappointment, direct appointment or open competition.”

Postmedia asked if any of the province’s appointments have been subject to an open competition — as well as for details about the provincial investigation — but did not hear back by press time.

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The Edmonton Police Service declined to comment, though an EPS lawyer earlier said McFee would be “separated off” from the appointment probe when he begins work with the provincial government.

jwakefield@postmedia.com

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