Once operational, the Alberta forensic DNA laboratory 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.
DNA testing allows police to identify suspects by comparing biological evidence, such as blood, hair or saliva, found at crime scenes. Currently, 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.
“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.”
“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.”
“The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police 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.”
“The new DNA lab will deliver faster results for police, prosecutors and most importantly, victims of crime. Having a local DNA lab will strengthen capacity, lower turnaround time and reduce costs. Faster results will lead to safer communities across the province.”
“The Edmonton Police Service is 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.”
Following renovations later this year, the laboratory will be located within the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) facility in Sherwood Park. It 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.
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.
To help offset operating costs, 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.
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Quick facts
- 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.