Lloydminster city council approved updates Monday to the policy governing how the city’s municipal enforcement officers do their jobs, including a clearer explanation of how officers appointed under Alberta law can enforce provincial traffic rules on the Saskatchewan side of the city.
The Municipal Enforcement Service Standards Policy, first adopted in 2022, sets service expectations for the city’s bylaw enforcement officers and community peace officers. Tayte Goddard, presenting the amendments to council, said the changes clarify the split in authority between the two roles and add a new after-hours response framework.
Under the amended policy, bylaw enforcement officers are authorized to enforce all city bylaws unless a specific bylaw says otherwise. Community peace officers can enforce both city bylaws and provincial legislation, under authority granted through Alberta’s Peace Officer Program.
How enforcement works across the border
Mayor Gerald Aalbers asked Goddard to explain how officers appointed under an Alberta program have authority to enforce provincial law on the Saskatchewan side of a city that straddles both provinces.
“Does that give you the authority to operate in Saskatchewan to enforce, say, the Saskatchewan Traffic Act as an example, or provincial acts in Saskatchewan, because of the uniqueness of our city?” asked Aalbers.
Goddard said the city’s charter is what makes it work.
“We fall under the Alberta Provincial Peace Officer Act. The Saskatchewan Police Act does not have effect here, whereas the Community Safety Officer Program in Saskatchewan is held under their Saskatchewan Police Act,” said Goddard. “Since we’ve also enacted the fact under our charter that we fall under the Alberta Peace Officer Program, that’s where our authorities come through our charter, and Saskatchewan has recognized that authority.”
Goddard said the arrangement gives community peace officers the tools to enforce the Traffic Safety Act, but it doesn’t extend to every Saskatchewan provincial law.
“So while we may be able to enforce Traffic Safety Act, that does not give us unlimited authority to the other provincial acts in Saskatchewan as well,” said Goddard.
After-hours calls, response times
The amended policy also formalizes an after-hours response framework. Calls received outside the department’s regular hours, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., will be assessed based on severity and forwarded to the appropriate agency when an immediate response is needed. Non-urgent complaints will wait for the next available officer.
Response time targets remain unchanged under the policy. Officers are expected to respond to calls within 15 minutes during scheduled hours, when available, and within 24 hours for complaints submitted online.
The city also plans to update its website’s municipal enforcement section to clarify current authorities and reporting options, and has developed new reference cards with the city’s Enforcement and Navigation Unit outlining who residents should contact for different concerns.
Council approved the policy without further debate, in a motion moved by Coun. Michael Diachuk and seconded by Coun. Justin Vance.
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