HALIFAX 鈥� Nova Scotia鈥檚 plan to increase the provincial role of the RCMP is being questioned by some mayors who say they are wary of the implications for their municipal police forces.
Under changes announced earlier this week following a provincial review launched in 2023, Justice Minister Becky Druhan said the government wants to use the RCMP as a provincial police force.
Druhan told reporters that the government is auditing local police forces, and those that can't meet provincial standards would be replaced by the RCMP.
Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell said in an interview Friday that his community is happy with its local police, adding that most of the other 10 municipalities with their own police forces are happy with theirs.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a trend across the country where we see in multiple provinces 鈥� that they are moving to a municipal model,鈥� said Mitchell. 鈥淚 have a lot of questions and I know it鈥檚 early days.鈥�
After cabinet on Thursday, Druhan was asked about whether municipal police forces will have to use the RCMP鈥檚 special services 鈥� such as forensic analysis, dive units and canine units 鈥� if they don鈥檛 have their own units.
鈥淢oving forward, it鈥檚 expected specialized services will be contracted with the RCMP 鈥� for new contracts,鈥� Druhan said, who noted for the time being municipal police forces could also seek these services from other city police units, such as the Halifax police.
Mitchell said Bridgewater currently has effective agreements with forces in Kentville, N.S., Truro, N.S. and the Halifax Regional Municipality. And while his town force also works with the Mounties, Mitchell questioned whether the RCMP can meet the staffing levels required to provide specialized services across the province.
鈥淚 find it a little premature to say any future contracts have to go through the RCMP when they may not be the best service delivery or cost-effective delivery model,鈥� he said.
Truro Mayor Cathy Hinton also said her town has been very satisfied with its local service and doesn鈥檛 intend to switch to the RCMP. She also said residents are concerned over whether the changes contemplated by the province will raise costs for municipal policing.
The force in the town currently has 51 staff, including 35 full-time police officers, serving a population of 13,000 people over 38 square kilometres. Hinton said the potential costs associated with meeting the standards are concerning.
鈥淲e don't know what those costs are going to entail. As we try to deal with (municipal) taxes and we try to deal with budgets, we need to know these unknowns,鈥� she said.
The mayor of the rural communities where a mass shooting began in Nova Scotia in April 2020 -- resulting in the deaths of 22 people -- said her community intends to stick with the RCMP.
Christine Blair, the mayor of the Municipality of Colchester County, said that her area is anticipating the force will be hiring seven new officers over the next three years to serve her area. In the first year, with three officers added, the added cost will be $670,000 to the community, on a budget of $8 million, she said.
Blair said the area, which includes the community of Portapique, N.S., where the killings began, is highly conscious of public safety, and that its council had decided the Mounties are the best option despite criticisms raised over its response to the killings.
She said a municipal police force was considered, but 鈥渨e found that the RCMP would be better for us. It鈥檚 a better route to go for our municipality.鈥�
However, Kentville Mayor Andrew Zabian wonders how the province鈥檚 changes will make his town of just under 7,000 鈥� with a police force of about 18 members 鈥� safer than it is now.
Zabian said with costs rising for things such as infrastructure and policing his community could be forced into a 鈥渉ard decision鈥� despite wishing to keep its own force.
鈥淚 do feel like we are kinda being pushed into a corner to switch over (to RCMP),鈥� said Zabian. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure that鈥檚 the intent but that鈥檚 what it feels like.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
- With files by Michael Tutton
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
