March 10, 2025
Ottawa, ON – The following is a statement from National Police Federation President and C.E.O., Brian Sauvé, regarding outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s vision for the future of RCMP policing in Canada:
“Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s RCMP vision, shared as he leaves office, has some merit in recommending dedicated funding and resources for federal policing which the NPF has repeatedly asked of his government. Like the RCMP, the NPF adamantly disagrees that this should come at the expense of provincial and municipal policing – and Canadian taxpayers – in favour of a siloed, U.S.-style and more expensive approach. This is a mistake we cannot afford to make, and particularly at this unprecedented time of economic and public safety uncertainty.
Contract policing is a fundamental pillar of the RCMP, ensuring that communities across Canada—whether rural, remote, or urban—receive consistent, high-quality law enforcement services. RCMP contract policing also ensures critical and seamless integration with the RCMP’s Federal Policing program to concertedly address local, regional, and national twenty-first century threats.
Any issues with the sustainability or consistency of RCMP policing sit with government. For years, successive governments driven by short-term political interests, neglected to provide the RCMP with the dedicated and sustained human and financial resources needed to meet its growing and evolving mandate to keep pace with changing crime and threats.
As recently as May 2024, Government’s What We Heard report summarizing consultations with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous partners underscores the continued value and effectiveness of RCMP contract policing, highlighting the critical role the RCMP plays in ensuring safety and security across Canada. This was followed by a letter from then-Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, to contract partners assuring the Federal Government’s commitment to honour contract policing obligations beyond 2032 and acknowledging its “central role” in Canadian policing. We look forward to working with any new government to continue these partnerships and discussions.
The RCMP’s integrated model is globally envied as one of the most effective policing structures in the world. Moving to a fragmented, U.S.-style policing model would be catastrophic for public safety in Canada. Destabilizing the RCMP model would undermine public safety, burden local governments, and create unnecessary economic hardship when Canadian provinces and taxpayers are already grappling with tariffs, an unstable economic climate and security threats.
It is entirely disruptive and inappropriate to suggest structural changes to the RCMP as a solution when the clear and obvious answer is simply increased, sustained, and dedicated funding for all of the RCMP’s business lines.
Canada must stand firm in preserving and enhancing the RCMP, ensuring it remains the most capable, adaptable, and respected policing organization in the world.”
About the National Police Federation:
The National Police Federation (the NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. We are the largest police union in Canada. The NPF is focused on improving public safety for all Canadians, including our Members by advocating for much-needed investment in the public safety continuum. This includes investments in police resourcing and modern equipment, as well as social programs including health, addiction, and housing supports to enhance safety and livability in the many communities we serve, large and small, across Canada.
For more information: https://npf-fpn.com/
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Media contact:
Sarah Kavanagh
Communications and Media Relations Advisor
[email protected]
