Canada’s premiers are pressing the federal government to provide clarity on the future of the RCMP’s contract policing model and begin negotiations “urgently” on new policing agreements before existing contracts expire in 2032.
The issue was discussed during last week’s Council of the Federation meeting in Charlottetown, where provincial and territorial leaders raised concerns about staffing shortages, rising policing costs, vacancies and governance issuesaffecting the national police force.
In a joint communiqué, the premiers called on Ottawa to make a clear decision on the future of RCMP contract policing and to begin negotiations with provinces and territories that intend to continue using the Mounties as their local police service.
The RCMP currently provides front-line policing in eight provinces, all three territories and approximately 150 municipalities. Under the existing agreements, provinces and territories cover 70 per cent of contract policing costs, while the federal government funds the remaining 30 per cent.
Although the contracts do not expire until 2032, provincial governments say negotiations need to begin soon because of the long lead times required for recruitment, infrastructure planning, budgeting and governance decisions.
The request comes amid years of debate over whether the RCMP should continue providing local policing or focus exclusively on federal responsibilities such as counterterrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, espionage and money laundering.
Earlier this year, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the federal government remains committed to maintaining RCMP front-line policing while prioritizing improvements to the force’s federal policing capabilities.
Some provinces are also reassessing their policing models. Alberta continues to examine the possibility of establishing an Alberta Police Service, while British Columbia emphasized that early negotiations are essential due to the complexity of long-term policing arrangements. The Northwest Territories is seeking a renewed agreement that reflects the unique policing challenges of northern and remote communities.
Several provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick, have also called for negotiations to begin as soon as possible.
Staffing shortages remain a major concern. Earlier this year, the Auditor General reported that the RCMP failed to recruit enough officers to meet operational needs, warning that chronic shortages increase the risk of officer burnout and could undermine crime prevention, investigations and public safety.
The federal Public Safety Department said it is actively consulting provinces and territories about their policing needs beyond 2032 but did not indicate when formal negotiations will begin. The RCMP referred questions on the matter to the federal department.
