Our Nova Scotia RCMP Members:
Here to Keep Our
Communities Safe.
Nova Scotians deserve a strong, effective, and trusted police service
Nova Scotia is strengthening its policing services to ensure they are more consistent, responsive, and community focused.
Following a province-wide review in 2025, the Government of Nova Scotia reaffirmed its commitment to the RCMP as the provincial police service, and is taking bold steps to improve how policing serves communities across the province. The findings of the review included the release of two reports, Shaping the Future: Policing in Nova Scotia from the Department of Justice and the policing review report and recommendations from Deloitte.
With nearly 1,000 RCMP officers serving 39 municipalities and 13 First Nations, Nova Scotians can count on a full range of policing services—local, provincial, and federal—delivered efficiently, affordably, and effectively.
Build on a Strong Foundation
To strengthen policing, the province has committed to six key reforms:
- More frontline officers to boost visibility and responsiveness
- New roles, such as Special Constables, to support core policing
- Establishing Community Safety Boards for stronger oversight
- One shared records management system to streamline coordination
- New Provincial Policing Standards for consistent, high-quality service
- A more transparent billing model for municipalities served by the RCMP
These changes reflect what Nova Scotians have asked for, policing that’s accountable, well-resourced, and deeply connected to the needs of every community.
Next Steps – From a Plan to Reality
To bring this vision to life, the province must make focused investments in tools, and RCMP Members who keep communities safe.
With over 20,500 new applicants in 2024/25, RCMP recruitment is surging, positions the RCMP well to meet Nova Scotia’s growing needs. The RCMP’s flexible posting pilot from last year, allowed cadets to return to their home province, was beneficial to Nova Scotia and saw vacancies filled. Building on this momentum, Nova Scotia must continue working with the federal government to bring in new police personnel and attain its goal of a renewed and strengthened NS RCMP presence.
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to RCMP contract policing across Canada, with a clear mandate to reinforce law enforcement and hire 1,000 additional RCMP officers nationwide.
The RCMP continues to deliver trusted service, strong value, and specialized capabilities unmatched by any other policing organization in the province. With the right investments, Nova Scotia can lay the groundwork for safer, stronger communities—today and for generations to come.
Reliable, Affordable, Proven
Nova Scotia RCMP is the provincial police service for a simple reason: it’s a proven model that works. RCMP policing meets or exceeds all provincial policing standards, delivers unparalleled financial value, and provides access to over 150 specialized policing services.
Under the Provincial & Municipal Policing Service Agreements:
- The federal government covers 30% of RCMP policing costs, while the province and municipalities pay just 70%.
- This saves Nova Scotians about $67 million annually, funds that support other priorities like healthcare, housing, and education.
- RCMP-served municipalities pay an average of $292 per resident per year, compared to $484 in non-RCMP jurisdictions.
With the RCMP, Nova Scotia benefits from scalable, cost-effective, and community-focused policing that residents trust and value.
Average NS Policing Cost per Capita
Jurisdictions throughout the province and Atlantic Canada:
Halifax Regional Municipality, NS – Municipal Policing Review (2023)
- Findings: Current policing costs with the RCMP & Halifax Regional Police is $123 million annually. A one-time transition cost to a single municipal police agency could be anywhere from 55-100% of current RCMP operating costs. Annual operating costs of a single municipal police agency would be expected to increase total costs by 10-25% after fully transitioning to a municipal police service. The transition would take six to 10 years.
Cumberland County, NS – Municipal Policing Review (2023)
- Findings: After a competitive review process, Cumberland County found the RCMP to be the most effective option.
Wolfville, NS – Municipal Policing Review (2023)
- Findings: Wolfville’s internal review determined that retaining the RCMP under a Municipal Police Service Agreement (MPSA) and creating a community safety office was the most effective solution.
New Brunswick – Provincial Policing Review (2022)
- Findings: RCMP policing cost $121 million annually (2021), while a potential provincial police service would cost $210 million per year, plus $258 million in transition costs. The transition was estimated to take 10 years.
Codiac Region, NB – Regional Policing Review (2024)
- Findings: The RCMP’s projected policing cost for Codiac Region was $933 million (2023–2037), compared to a municipal police service, which would cost $1.06 billion, including $73 million in transition costs. The transition would take 15 years.
Nova Scotians Support Their RCMP Members
Nova Scotians have consistently expressed strong satisfaction with RCMP policing services. In fact, according to new independent public opinion research conducted in late 2024 , 70% of residents in RCMP-served areas reported being satisfied with the policing services they receive (Pollara, 2024). This survey also found that:
of residents in RCMP-served communities want to continue with the current RCMP policing model.
of Nova Scotians from across the province support keeping the RCMP as the province’s police service.
These results send a clear message: Nova Scotians trust and support their RCMP Members. This high level of satisfaction underscores the public’s confidence in the RCMP’s ability to effectively serve and protect Nova Scotians.
Stay informed about public safety enforcement in Nova Scotia
Specialized Policing Services No One Else Offers
Only the RCMP delivers access to over 150 specialized policing services across the province, including Major Crime Investigators, Air Support, Forensic Teams, Police Dog Units, Marine Patrol, Crisis Negotiators, and more.
Across Nova Scotia, municipal police services regularly call on the RCMP for backup and access to specialized units. In 2021, the RCMP responded to 84 requests from municipal services for specialized support. Without the RCMP, these communities would have to bear the full cost of these critical services.
National Police Federation –
Mass Casualty Commission Recommendations
Following the mass casualty that took place in Nova Scotia on April 18-19, 2020 the Federal Government and the Nova Scotia Provincial Government created and held, by a joint mandate, an independent public inquiry – the Mass Casualty Commission (MCC).
In order to share the perspectives of our Members, who were directly involved in the RCMP response to the mass casualty, and to address public safety concerns, the NPF was granted formal partipant status by the Commission and was deeply engaged throughout the MCC process. The following report shares our recommendations stemming from the MCC, considering Members’ perspectives and how to improve community and Member safety across the province and rest of Canada.
Many of the NPF’s recommendations are oriented toward ensuring its Members will be better resourced, equipped, and supported the next time they are called upon to respond to a major critical incident.
Recommendations
In total, the National Police Federation advanced 28 recommendations to the MCC and Government focused on improving public safety in Nova Scotia. These recommendations are organized into seven main themes: police resourcing, provincial policing standards, Member mental health,
support for victims and families, air support, improved technology, and support for critical incident response.
1. Optimization of Police Resources in Nova Scotia
Conduct a police resourcing model and funding formula review to identify and maintain an effective level of police personnel, and related resources.
2. Implementation of Comprehensive, Consistent Policing Standards
Enhance the provincial police training standards, focusing on increasing the consistency of training standards and collaboration across different police services. The directive of training standards should include a basic set of standards that each police service is required to maintain.
3. Enhanced Support for Member Mental Health
Establish policies to define the role of the police family liaison officer with proper training and, clear guidelines, and protocols. Ensure that all needs that cannot be met by police are met by other agencies.
4. Multi-Agency Supports for Victims and Families
Take steps to address organizational stressors which contribute to the risk of OSI in its Members. Improvements to post-critical incident supports. The RCMP provide evidence-based training and peer support to spouses and families of RCMP Members.
5. An Emergency Air Support Strategy for the Atlantic
Develop and implement an Emergency Air Services Strategy to ensure air support is available to support all police services in Atlantic Canada during critical incidents, 24/7/365.
6. Improved Technology for Situational Awareness and Interoperability
Examine and implement encrypted radio and enhanced GPS systems that allow for increased situational awareness, including increased interoperability between police services and other public safety personnel.
7. Resources and Best Practices to Support Critical Incident Response
Provide the necessary tools, resources, and personnel to assist in critical incident response.
RCMP Members Provide Multiple Specializked Services in Nova Scotia
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