Law360 Canada (May 6, 2026, 3:02 PM EDT) -- The Government of Alberta is investing $8.9 million to build Western Canada’s “first provincial forensic DNA laboratory to speed up investigations and support prosecutions.”

According to a government release, issued May 5, the new Alberta forensic DNA laboratory, introduced in Budget 2026, will “help reduce wait times and allow police to identify suspects sooner, supporting prosecutors in building stronger cases and helping victims get answers faster.”

“The lab will also reduce the cost of DNA testing paid by municipalities and allow police to submit more evidence from property crimes for testing, helping solve offences that often affect rural communities,” the release explained, noting that DNA testing allows “police to identify suspects by comparing biological evidence, such as blood, hair or saliva, found at crime scenes.”

Currently, the release added, most DNA evidence collected by police officers must be sent to a “federal laboratory, often resulting in months-long wait times that can slow investigations and delay court proceedings.”

Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, said, “Alberta will no longer outsource our public safety to Ottawa.”

“This new lab means faster testing and quicker turnaround times. Victims shouldn’t have to wait years for closure while evidence sits on a shelf in another province. We are bringing DNA testing home to Alberta to speed up prosecutions, protect our communities and ensure that justice is served at the speed Albertans expect,” he asserted in a statement.

Minister of Justice Mickey Amery noted that the “justice system must work fairly, efficiently and transparently to maintain public confidence.”

“By bringing forensic DNA testing here to Alberta, we are helping move investigations and court proceedings forward faster, with stronger, more reliable evidence,” he said.

According to the release, the laboratory will be located within the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) facility in Sherwood Park. The laboratory will “open in phases to ensure operational readiness and that testing procedures meet international accreditation standards.”

“By 2029, it is expected to begin accepting DNA evidence from property crimes, such as break-ins and thefts. By 2031, services are expected to expand to include serious crimes, such as homicides and sexual assaults,” the release added, noting that Alberta sends “more DNA evidence for testing than any other province.”

In 2024-25, each DNA test cost “about $2,482 when processed through the federal system.”

“With a provincial lab, Alberta expects the average cost per case to be up to 40 per cent lower, helping reduce costs for municipalities and taxpayers,” the release explained.

To help offset operating costs, the release added, Alberta’s government intends to “negotiate a new funding arrangement with the federal government, similar to agreements already in place in Ontario and Quebec.” Under this model, Alberta’s forensic DNA laboratory could “operate at net-zero cost to provincial taxpayers by 2031.”

Al Murphy, president of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, said the association “welcomes this investment in a provincial forensic DNA laboratory.”

“Faster access to DNA results will directly support police investigations, strengthen prosecutions, and help deliver timely answers for victims. This is a meaningful step toward improving public safety and addressing both serious and violent crime across Alberta,” he added in a statement.

Warren Driechel, chief of the Edmonton Police Service, also was “pleased to see the Alberta DNA lab moving forward.”

“We identified the need for enhanced forensic capacity early on and have been working closely with the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police and the province to advance this project. As it moves into the next phase, we look forward to continuing to contribute our expertise to help ensure this forensic biology service is developed in a way that best meets operational and community needs across Alberta,” he asserted.

According to the release, the Alberta Forensic DNA Laboratory will “directly employ about 41 full-time employees.”

“In 2025-26, Alberta paid $6.9 million to the RCMP National Forensic Laboratory Services for DNA testing — a 50 per cent increase since 2014-15. DNA casework costs charged by the federal lab are projected to reach $7.2 million by 2027 and increase by an additional 4.5 per cent annually,” the release concluded.

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