The Alberta government has introduced a new funding model for municipalities with respect to policing services. Rural and municipal policing have inherent pain points that will never be resolved: there are only so many officers for remote regions, only so much money to go around, and that reality isn’t changing.
In my September 2024 blog, STOP Treating Tickets as a Cost of Doing Business, I talked about Alberta’s shifting enforcement landscape. Between the RCMP, sheriffs, bylaw officers, peace officers, the new Border Interdiction Team, and independent city police services, Alberta is crawling with new enforcement. Edmonton and Calgary both have dedicated commercial vehicle divisions with fully trained CVSA officers. The Interdiction Patrol Team has helicopters, drones, dogs, and guns.
All of this is very expensive. Calgary and Edmonton are tens of millions of dollars short in their policing budgets because of lost photo radar revenue — thanks for that, Maple MAGA Dreeshen.
How Police in Alberta Are Currently Funded
Short answer: It’s complicated.
1. Municipal Police Services (e.g., Calgary Police, Edmonton Police)
Funded primarily by municipal taxes, not the province or feds.
Main sources:
👉 Bottom line: Calgary Police and Edmonton Police are paid for by their cities, not by higher levels of government.
2. Provincial Police (RCMP contract policing in rural Alberta)
Funding split:
RCMP covers rural areas, small towns, and provincial highways.
3. Federal RCMP Units
Entirely funded by the federal government.
They handle national security, organized crime, border integrity, and financial crimes.
Municipalities do not pay for this.
The New Alberta Funding Model (April 2026)
Beginning April 1 2026, municipalities will pay a larger share of their own policing — without raising property taxes.
And how exactly do you think they’ll pull that off?
Commercial vehicles.
Because commercial vehicle enforcement is the most reliable revenue generator in the game.
Violations are endless:
And remember, if a driver is overweight on multiple axles, an officer can ticket each axle separately, plus the overall weight. LinkedIn is full of officers proudly posting ticket stats adding up to thousands of dollars.
Throw in a few ELD violations and your town might finally be able to afford the armoured vehicle or tactical team the chief has been dreaming about.
Most carriers don’t fight tickets because:
The government knows this.
It’s one reason some officers like to “pile on” violations — issuing multiple tickets for essentially the same offence under different regulations.
And when that well starts to dry up, there’s always the “chicken tickets”: tint, exhaust, and the Wetaskiwin special — obscured or faded licence plate under TSA AR320/2002 s.71(1).
Alberta had an entire bad batch of plates for a decade. Instead of issuing a warning and a notice to replace the plate, the province quietly posted a notice on its website… and let enforcement go wild writing tickets for it.
What Wetaskiwin Has to Say
Josh Bishop, Reeve of Wetaskiwin County, said:
“We appreciate the government’s commitment to freeze the police funding model rate and consult with municipalities. The proposed five-year transition provides the budget predictability municipalities require. This approach acknowledges the increased costs of policing and allows us time to adjust without forcing immediate, severe tax hikes on our residents.”
Of course he appreciates it — Wetaskiwin has more shitty plates than anywhere else in Alberta from the number of tickets they write. They can ride that revenue wave all the way into the sunset.
And Don’t Forget the Coming Alberta Police Force
The pressure on commercial carriers will only intensify when Alberta moves to its own provincial police service. Hopefully it gets a cool name like Alberta Rapid Force or The A Team.
And yes — Alberta is actively recruiting globally.
The Law Enforcement Pathway under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program is designed to attract police officers from abroad. In 2025, 20 nomination spots were available; 11 were already filled, with more than a hundred candidates waiting.
For the Record…
I’m not anti-enforcement. I’m anti-abuse-of-power.
Commercial vehicle enforcement is necessary in Alberta and across Canada. The industry cannot and does not police itself — and when left alone, it descends into chaos, as we’ve recently seen.
Municipalities need policing revenue. Fine.
But does it really have to come from window tint and plate tickets?
How about focusing on:
But that takes actual work.
And writing 20 chicken tickets in a day is so much easier — and better for bragging rights on Snapchat.
Commercial trucking insurance is high-stakes gambling. Insurance premiums are the wager—a bet on the fleet, drivers, and safety practices. The insurance company is the "house," accepting that bet in hopes the fleet won’t incur significant claims. But what goes on behind the scenes? How do insurance companies calculate the odds, and what happens if they miscalculate? Here’s a closer look at commercial trucking insurance.
The Gamble: Premiums, Odds, and Actuaries
When setting premium rates, insurance companies rely on actuaries, the industry’s "odds makers." These experts use historical data and risk models to calculate the likelihood of claims. They analyze factors like accident frequency, claim costs, and inflation trends. Setting the minimum premium, or “bet.” Insurance brokers act as intermediaries, like a bookie, between trucking companies and insurers. They earn commissions to facilitate these relationships.
Actuarial calculations are only as reliable as the data they use. If the data is wrong the resulting odds and premiums may misrepresent actual risks. Insurers may overcharge safe trucking companies or undercharge riskier ones. These inaccuracies, if widespread, drive up premiums across the industry. Insurance companies offset losses by charging all policyholders higher rates, ensuring that everyone bears the brunt of miscalculated risks.
Actuaries vs. Underwriters: Understanding Their Roles
While actuaries work with numbers, underwriters assess a company’s specific risk factors. For instance, underwriters examine a trucking company’s Carrier Profile and safety rating. A "Satisfactory" rating typically indicates strong risk management and may lead to lower premiums, whereas a "Conditional" rating suggests potential issues, leading to stricter rates or additional charges. Now is a good time to re-read my blog, Don’t look behind the curtain! unveiling the Alberta Transportation safety scam. Unlike actuaries, underwriters consider a broader range of factors, including safety practices, maintenance programs, and driver qualifications.
Insurance Models in Canada: Public, Private, and Self-Insured
In Canada, insurance systems vary by province, with three main models: public (government-managed), private, and self-insured.
Captive insurance can be structured as either "pure" captives for individual companies or "group" captives that pool resources across multiple companies, sharing risks and lowering costs. Captives can offer cost control, customized coverage, and better claims management—attractive benefits for companies looking to optimize their insurance options. Now think of a group of “chameleon carriers” getting together to self-insure, no risk there.
Limiting Liability: Knowing Your Policy and Exclusions
Understanding your policy and identifying gaps in your safety and maintenance program is of the upmost importance. These gaps could be used against you when approving or denying claims. Insurance companies may scrutinize records during an incident review especially if the carrier has a black swan event. Insurance companies are looking for evidence to limit liability, looking for reasons to minimize claim payouts. Key areas for attention include:
Complete and accurate documentation can be the difference between an insurance payout or a hefty company expense. For example, if a wheel flies off the carrier needs to be able to show regular inspections and re-torques.
In commercial trucking insurance, exclusions refer to specific situations, events, or types of damages that the insurance policy will not cover. These exclusions are important to understand, as they indicate which risks and scenarios the carrier will be financially responsible for if they occur. If you smash up your vehicle while driving impaired the insurance company doesn’t pay for a new car.
Common exclusions often include:
Final Thoughts: Navigating the Insurance Gamble
The relationship between trucking companies and insurers is an intricate blend of risk, probability, and strategic management. With proactive documentation, a comprehensive safety program, and a thorough understanding of policy limits, companies can make the most of their insurance—and minimize surprises when they need it most. Lack of reliable regulatory oversight from federal and provincial governments has resulted in inaccurate carrier information, allowing trucking companies on the road that do not meet safety standards. Two things will happen, insurance companies will put pressure on regulators to do their jobs, or insurance companies will have to do enhanced compliance reviews before insuring a carrier. Insurance companies cannot use inaccurate carrier profile information and bogus TPA (third party auditors) audits anymore to determine risk.
