Manitoba allocates $163.5 million to First Nations police and safety officer programs
The provincial and federal governments will provide $163.5 million to the Manitoba First Nations Police Service and the safety officer program, though some Indigenous leaders say the amount falls short of community needs.
A combined $163.5 million from provincial and federal sources will be directed to the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) and the Manitoba First Nations Safety Officer Program. MFNPS is slated to receive $121 million across a four-year period, while the safety officer program will obtain $42.5 million to expand services to any interested community. Police Chief Jason Colon argued that residents should receive policing comparable to any other Manitoban community, but the service needs the capacity to meet those expectations.
Safety officers, highlighted by Manto Sipi Cree Nation Chief Michael Yellowback, often handle initial crime response and detain suspects while awaiting RCMP assistance, which can be delayed by up to three hours in winter conditions. Indigenous leaders warned that $42 million will not adequately cover the 63 First Nations in the province and urged ongoing support for training and equipment. Long Plain First Nation Chief David Meeches expressed gratitude for one outlet funds but stressed the need for sustained investment.
Why it matters
Adequate funding determines the safety and policing quality for remote First Nations communities in Manitoba.
In this story
