Province, federal government in talks over RCMP staffing levels in Sask.

Conversations are ongoing between the two levels of government on the issue of RCMP staffing in Saskatchewan.

In September it was reported that our province was under served by as much as 25 per cent.

Unfilled vacancies and slow response times in rural areas remain the biggest concern.

Justice Minister Gord Wyant confirmed the issue remains a high priority in his discussions with his federal counterpart.

“We want to make sure that the money we’re spending, that the officers that are being deployed by the RCMP in rural Saskatchewan are being deployed properly because public safety continues to be our challenge,” Wyant said.

“We are working with him to make sure we have a proper deployment and if things need to change we expect him to make those changes.”

The official vacancy rate in the RCMP is four per cent.

In its contract with the RCMP the province only pays for the officers it has been provided.

“We need to make sure not only that the proper protection is there but that people feel they are being protected and that’s all part of the ongoing dialogue.”