Premiers urge Ottawa to start RCMP contract talks
RCMP contract policing faces pressure as premiers push Ottawa for clarity Premiers warn delays, costs and vacancies make early negotiations vital
Canada’s premiers are pressing the federal government to provide clarity on the future of RCMP contract policing and begin negotiations with provinces and territories that want to keep the Mounties as their local police force.
In a joint statement after meeting in Charlottetown last week, the premiers pointed to staffing shortages, vacancies, rising costs and governance concerns. They said long lead times for policing, recruitment, infrastructure and budgeting mean talks need to start well before current agreements expire in 2032.
The issue comes amid broader debate over whether the RCMP should continue providing frontline policing in most provinces and territories or focus more narrowly on federal crimes. Several provinces, including British Columbia, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories, said they want negotiations to begin soon or as soon as possible.