Canada’s premiers are calling for more clarity from the federal government around the future of the RCMP and to start negotiations as soon as possible with those who plan on keeping the Mounties as their boots-on-the-ground police force.
According to a joint communiqué, the provincial and territorial leaders discussed what’s next in their relationships with the RCMP when they gathered last week in Charlottetown.
“They highlighted policing challenges, such as staffing shortages, vacancies, rising costs and governance concerns,” said the communiqué.
“The federal government must provide a clear decision on the future of RCMP contract policing and to urgently begin negotiations regarding new police service agreements for those who want them.”
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It alludes to years of uncertainty and debate about whether Ottawa should keep the RCMP in front-line policing across the country, or shift to solely focus on what’s known as federal policing — which includes espionage, violent extremism and terrorism, money laundering, cybercrime and organized crime.
Earlier this year, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree told CBC News the government is committed to keeping Mounties in the business of day-to-day policing, while signalling that improving the federal crimes wing is his government’s priority.
Eight of the provinces, the three territories and some 150 municipalities across Canada have contracts with Ottawa to use the RCMP as their local police. The current agreements — which see the provinces and territories pay for 70 per cent of the contract and the federal government cover the rest — are set to expire in 2032.
While still six years away, multiple provinces are pushing for those talks to start soon. They say they need more details to plan ahead.
Regional support for the RCMP has wavered in parts of the country. After a heated fight, Surrey, B.C., transitioned away from the Red Serge in 2024 and stood up its own police force.
Late last year the Alberta Next Panel, aimed at finding ways the province can strengthen its autonomy, suggested Premier Danielle Smith’s government continue its work in establishing an Alberta Police Service “and transition community policing services from the RCMP to the APS and municipal policing services.”
In a statement this week, a spokesperson for Alberta’s Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services said the province is “continuing to explore options to strengthen public safety.”
“While the federal government has signalled a willingness to negotiate police service agreements beyond 2032, provinces and territories continue to seek formal certainty and an accelerated negotiation process given the long lead times required for policing, recruitment, infrastructure, budgeting and governance decisions,” said the spokesperson, Sheena Campbell.
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British Columbia, the largest RCMP contract policing jurisdiction in Canada, said “given the complexity of contract policing, all parties require the necessary time to plan, engage and fully participate in meaningful negotiations.
“It is critical that contract negotiations be initiated to ensure the long-term strategic response to public safety,” said a spokesperson for the province’s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson said he’s looking for a renewed agreement “that reflects the unique realities of policing in the North.”
“We support greater transparency and engagement with provinces and territories throughout the negotiations, continued federal investment to maintain strong RCMP services and measures that strengthen recruitment, retention and staffing stability in remote communities,” he said in a statement to CBC News.
He said he’s also looking for sustained support for complementary community safety initiatives like programs looking at prevention and wellness alongside policing.
“Ultimately, improving public safety in the North requires both effective policing and continued collaboration to address the underlying social factors that drive crime,” he said.
Both the governments in Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick said they are looking for negotiations to start “as soon as possible.”
Staff shortages have been flagged by premiers in the past as an area of concern in their contracts. Multiple reports have concluded the RCMP’s multiple mandates are straining the institution.
Earlier this year the federal auditor general found the RCMP didn’t recruit enough new officers or effectively assign its members to meet its operational needs.
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“As a result of chronic shortages of front-line police officers, the RCMP faces a higher risk of police officer absences and burnout, which could make it more challenging for the force to prevent and investigate crime, maintain peace and order and contribute to national security,” said the report.
The Mass Casualty Commission, which investigated the April 2020 massacre in Nova Scotia that killed 22 people, put out a report in 2023 calling on government to review and restructure the RCMP.
As part of its response to the tragedy, the Nova Scotia government announced this week that it’s making changes to how it funds and bills for RCMP services.
The federal Public Safety Department didn’t answer when negotiations will begin, but said it’s been “actively engaging with jurisdictions to identify their policing needs beyond 2032.”
The RCMP deferred to Public Safety when reached for comment.
