Stronger Together: Supporting the RCMP in Quebec for Safer Communities
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Over 825 RCMP Members are proud to serve across Quebec, contributing to the safety and security of communities throughout the province.
RCMP Members in Quebec provide essential federal policing services, described below, from nine detachments in various municipalities and Indigenous communities across our province.
They protect all of Quebec’s residents by delivering a wide range of specialized policing services to municipalities of all sizes, including:
- Forensic Identification Section
- Crisis Negotiation Team
- Police Dog Services
Additionally, Quebec’s RCMP Division “C” is home to numerous highly specialized units, such as:
- Integrated Organized Crime Enforcement Unit
- Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Team
- Money Laundering Investigation Team
- Tactical Operational Support Team for Cryptocurrency
- Four Integrated Border Enforcement Teams
- Integrated National Security Enforcement Team
- Close Protection Unit
These efforts reflect the unwavering dedication of more than 825 regular Members, civilian members, and public service employees in C Division, all working to ensure a safe and secure environment for Quebec’s residents and visitors alike.
Recommendations
A Safer Future: Adapting to Quebec’s Evolving Needs
Over the past five years (2020–2024), Quebec’s population increased by approximately 3.0%, while Canada’s national population grew by about 1.8% during the same period. This indicates that Quebec’s population growth rate has been nearly double the national average.
Despite this significant growth, Quebec has experienced the largest decrease in the number of police officers per 100,000 residents over the past decade, compared to both the Canadian average and the rest of Atlantic Canada. This trend underscores the need for strategic investments in policing to ensure public safety keeps pace with the province’s demographic changes.
Recommendation
Allocate more resources over three years to recruit additional RCMP members in Quebec.
This investment will strengthen public safety, ensure adequate policing coverage across the province, and bring Quebec’s policing resources more in line with national standards.
Seamless Connections: How the RCMP and Quebec’s Public Safety Teams Ensure Reliable Communication
The RCMP and other public safety agencies in Quebec rely heavily on secure, interoperable communication networks to maintain public safety. These networks must leverage both current and emerging technologies to ensure continuous, reliable, real-time access to critical information.
Despite more than a decade of discussions among federal, provincial, and territorial governments, Canada still lacks a Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN)—placing the country behind others such as the United States, Australia, and South Korea in public safety communications infrastructure.
As the frequency and severity of natural disasters and emergencies continue to rise, effective communication and coordination across all levels of government and public safety agencies has never been more critical.
Recommendation
Collaborate across all levels of government to establish a national Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN) by leveraging existing mobile network infrastructure through a multi-operator partnership model. An initial investment of $1 billion is recommended to launch the PSBN and to assess long-term infrastructure and funding needs.