Our Nova Scotia RCMP Members:
Here to Keep Our
Communities Safe.
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Nova Scotians deserve a strong, effective, and trusted police service: the RCMP
Some people are calling for changes to the policing model in Nova Scotia that could cause potential public safety disruption and increased costs. But the facts, and Nova Scotians, say otherwise.
Across 40 municipalities and 13 First Nations, nearly 1,000 RCMP officers serve Nova Scotians every day, responding to over 140,000 calls annually from 53 detachments. The Nova Scotia RCMP provides a full suite of local, provincial, and federal policing services, saving taxpayers money while keeping communities safe.
A late 2024 public opinion survey by Pollara Strategic Insights found that 70% of Nova Scotians in RCMP-served communities are satisfied with the policing services they receive, and that 75% want to continue with the current RCMP policing model.
Nova Scotia Must Invest in the RCMP
To keep pace with the evolving nature of crime, Nova Scotia must invest in innovative solutions, including modern tools, training, and resources for the RCMP and other essential social services. With surging RCMP recruitment (20,500 applicants in 2024/25 alone) and pre-posting agreements enabling cadets from Nova Scotia to return home after graduating from the RCMP Training Academy, the RCMP remains in a strong position to meet growing policing demands in Nova Scotia.
Last year, the federal government reaffirmed its commitment for RCMP contract policing across Canada. With a newly elected federal government, Prime Minister Carney’s mandate letter to his Ministers also included a commitment to “reinforcing law enforcement” and hiring 1,000 additional RCMP officers.
With this strong federal backing and local recruitment success, it’s time for Nova Scotia to match that commitment and invest in the RCMP, a trusted policing partner.
We call on the Government of Nova Scotia to:
- Reaffirm its support for the RCMP as a vital policing partner.
- Invest in the RCMP to reflect the scale and complexity of their work, including hiring 100 new RCMP Members.
- Work with the federal government to strengthen the RCMP now and into the future.
The RCMP continues to offer unmatched value, trusted services, and specialized capabilities. By investing in RCMP Members today, Nova Scotia can build safer, stronger communities for more generations to come.
Reliable, Affordable, Proven
The NS RCMP delivers exceptional value. Under the Provincial Policing Services Agreement:
- 30% of policing costs are covered by the federal government, while the province pays just 70%.
- This saves Nova Scotians about $50 million every year, funds that support health care, housing, education, and other priorities.
Without the NS RCMP, policing costs would rise significantly and potentially disrupt the delivery of public safety services.
Municipalities with RCMP services pay an average of approximately $292 per resident per year, compared to about $484 in non-RCMP jurisdictions. Replacing the RCMP would dramatically increase costs and take years to implement, without any guarantee of better service.
Average NS Policing Cost per Capita
Many policing reviews in Atlantic Canada have also concluded the same.
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.
Halifax Regional Municipality, NS – Municipal Policing Review
- 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.
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.
Only 1 in 10 respondents felt they would be safer if the RCMP were replaced by a new 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.
Specialized Policing Services No One Else Offers
Only the RCMP delivers over 24 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
Latest News
We need your help to keep the Cumberland RCMP!
Last month, Cumberland County City Council announced they will soon be accepting proposals for a potential new police service. This comes after the Police Services Review Committee finalized its public consultation report, which offered two options to move forward with the County’s police services. Unfortunately, Council selected the most disruptive and typically expensive option: to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for policing, which could result in the selection of a new policing service for the region.
2022 Polling Results
Earlier this year, we surveyed Nova Scotians across the province to learn what they think about policing in their community. Here’s what they found: 79% of Nova Scotians served by the RCMP are satisfied with the police service they receive. Only 13% of Nova Scotians would prefer the RCMP to have less control over local […]
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