An association representing Alberta prosecutors is calling for new employment protections in the wake of the alleged firing of two top Edmonton Crowns.

There’s a concern the the UCP are continuing their siege against all systems in Alberta. The UCP have interfered with the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service by backing their favourite, EPS Chief Warren Driechel. Worse, the UCP now follow up their support with the unexpected terminations of career Crown Prosecutors Scott Niblock and Ryan Abrams.

The UCP abuse of the Notwithstanding Clause, and now these terminations, suggest a purge.

“The recent actions of the government highlight the need for our members to have employment protections that insulate them from losing their employment without articulated cause,” the unsigned ACAA statement reads. “Without this protection, Crown prosecutors are susceptible to being dismissed from their employment for improper reasons.”

“The current backdrop of uncertainty and the lack of transparency create challenges for our members in fulfilling their role of making fair, principled and legally correct decisions in an independent manner.”

[EDIT: Vagueness] EPS Chief Warren Driechel back in September 2025 issued a letter to Alberta Justice to interfere with the Crown Prosecution’s discretion in relation to a murder file.

While the letter itself was notable enough as an attack against the Justice System, the EPS essentially went on to “threaten… if the Crown does not change course, police will release their own details of the case so it can be judged in the court of public opinion.”

https://globalnews.ca/news/11405045/edmonton-police-crown-manslaughter-letter/

Other legal experts weighed in about the impropriety of the EPS letter.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-plea-deal-police-1.7634783

The UCP publicly stated that they supported EPS Chief Driechel’s letter. Driechel at the time was one of two candidates hoping to fully receive the office of EPS Chief.

In Sep 2025, later in the same month, Driechel was confirmed as the EPS Chief. But, Driechel himself was not without controversy.

https://www.theprogressreport.ca/10_years_later_documents_shed_new_light_on_eps_steroid_scandal