Hobbema, AB, March 2, 2006 -- Today, Mr. Blaine Calkins, Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin, Alberta, on behalf of the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety , with the Honourable Harvey Cenaiko, Alberta Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security, have signed the Hobbema Agreement, to improve police capacity in the Ermineskin Tribe, Montana First Nation and Samson Cree Nation communities.

“We are committed to making communities safer and we are doing this today by working with the province of Alberta and these three First Nations,” said Minister Day. “Through this agreement, the largest in Alberta, nine new RCMP members will provide dedicated police services to these First Nations communities.”

"Every Albertan deserves to live in a safe community," said Harvey Cenaiko, Alberta Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. "These agreements send a clear message that the Alberta government will continue to disrupt and dismantle violent crime and gang activity across the province."

The Hobbema Agreement has a total value of $8,604,945 with Canada’s share being $4,474,571 over five years. The federal and provincial governments will share the cost of providing First Nations policing services.

Roy Louis, Member of Samson Cree Nation notes, “Samson Cree Nation is very proud to be part of the Hobbema Agreement which will help to address the problems of organised crime and violence in the community.”

Mr. Calkins added, “The Hobbema Agreement will bring the number of First Nations Community Police Service agreements in Alberta to six, helping to maintain social order, public security and personal safety for the members of these communities. ”

According to these Tripartite community agreements, First Nations benefit, in their community, from the presence of police members usually from the RCMP. Efforts are made for these RCMP police services to be staffed by Aboriginal police members.

With a population of approximately 13,000 persons, the Ermineskin Tribe, Montana First Nation and Samson Cree Nation are located south of Wetaskiwin, Alberta.