Other Provincial Police in Canada
Federal Government
In 2019, the federal government confirmed that there are systemic sustainability challenges impacting the entire RCMP. This was disclosed as part of a briefing note provided by Public Safety Canada to the federal Minister of Public Safety (the minister responsible for the RCMP). As part of this, the government shared that:
- The Government of Canada has been aiming to decrease its contract policing costs since the 1960s.
- There is growing dissatisfaction from communities related to costs and officer vacancies.
- The demand for contract officers exceeds the RCMP’s capacity to recruit and train.
- Federal policing capacity is being sacrificed to meet the RCMP’s contract policing demands.
- Since 2010, RCMP contract policing officers increased 17% and federal officers decreased 30%.
- Federal budget reductions/shortfalls have disproportionately impacted federal policing.
- The Government of Canada is not recovering all costs related to policing in contract jurisdictions.
In June 2021, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security released a report on RCMP contract policing. It recommended that the federal government explore the possibility of ending contract policing and work with the provinces and municipalities to help those interested establish their own police services.
In December 2021, Prime Minister Trudeau's mandate letter to the Minister of Public Safety Canada directed that Minister to conduct an assessment of RCMP contract policing in consultation with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders.
Learn More about the Federal Government's View on Contract Policing
Learn More
