Legislation introduced late last month in the Saskatchewan legislature paves the way for the recently announced provincial marshals service and potentially a provincial police force.
The government has said it is not establishing a provincial police service and that the new service is meant to support existing forces, but some wonder why it is building so much capacity.
The opposition NDP said there are more important areas where the Saskatchewan Party government could spend money.
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Bill 106 would amend the Police Act and Bill 107 establishes the Provincial Protective Services Act.
The first bill, according to corrections minister Christine Tell, will provide flexibility to designate police services. For example, it could allow the type of members to be expanded by regulation, allow alternative governance other than traditional police boards and grant broader regulatory powers, she said during second reading.
“Mr. Speaker, the government has announced the creation of the Saskatchewan marshals service, or the SMS,” she said. “The structure and implementation of the SMS is still in development. However, the proposed changes (in Bill 106) ensure the SMS could be designated as a police service under section 24.1 if appropriate.”
The amendments would give the minister more power to intervene if there are problems with a municipal police force. Currently, the only option is to hold a special inquiry, Tell said, which is expensive and time-consuming.
The minister would also have more options if a police agency were not providing adequate policing or isn’t following legislation, she said.
“These proposed changes do not indicate a lack of faith or confidence in our municipal policing service. Instead, they are intended as a preventive measure to ensure Saskatchewan residents continue to receive safe and effective law enforcement.”
The new bill, 107, follows the establishment earlier this year of the provincial protective services as a branch of the corrections, policing and public safety ministry answering to the minister. Conservation officers, highway patrol officers, community safety officers, court security, and others are all part of the new PPS. The legislation establishes the minister’s power and the composition of the PPS and allows for the appointment of a commissioner and deputy commissioner.
The shift to more provincial policing began last year with the introduction of Bill 70 to move security within the legislative building to the PPS rather than under the authority of the sergeant-at-arms.
Since then, the NDP has expressed concern about the politicization of policing and the RCMP has asked why the province didn’t spend more to shore up its services since it is already well established.
During debate, NDP MLA Jennifer Bowes said the changes give the minister too much power and municipalities will have to pay the bills.
Her colleague, Erika Ritchie, said the PPS is a partisan, wasteful initiative.
“Ostensibly this is a bill that is going to augment and consolidate the services provided across what were in formerly other ministries,” she said. “I have several concerns with this approach, concerns that I am hearing from stakeholders and community members about the priorities and the manner in which this partisan police force will be addressing illegal activity and crimes in the province.”
Tell has said it will cost about $20 million per year to operate the new marshals service of about 70 officers but she has not said what the up-front cost will be.
Ritchie said the money would be better spent dealing with the root causes of crime, such as addictions and mental health.
She said there are areas, such as unauthorized drainage, where enforcement is lacking.
“Will this police force be directing resources to addressing that illegal activity?” she said.
Ritchie added that the government’s plan is a slap in the face to the RCMP and municipal police forces who have been asking for more money and not receiving it.
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities president Ray Orb has said it is willing to look at what the government is proposing. However, SARM has long lobbied for more resources to be directed to the RCMP.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
