Saskatchewan Marshals Service interviewing Mounties for positions before launching

Saskatchewan's new provincial police force has begun interviewing Mounties as it prepares to launch this year, a move critics say highlights concerns of job poaching.

Saskatchewan's new provincial police force has begun interviewing Mounties as it prepares to launch this year, a move critics say highlights concerns of job poaching.

Chief Marshal Robert Cameron of the Saskatchewan Marshals Service says the force has received interest from across the country for its positions, including officers from Saskatchewan.

A spokesperson with the marshals later confirmed it's been interviewing Saskatchewan Mounties for positions.

"The opportunity that the marshals service provides as a police agency here in the province, it would be shocking that people inside the province wouldn't want to be also part of that," Cameron said in a recent interview.

"But certainly, we've had interest all over the country. One of our first members we did hire as one of our inspectors was actually an (Ontario Provincial Police) officer."

Cameron said the plan is to have 17 to 20 officers working this summer, with 70 employed by the end of 2026. It has been looking for experienced officers during its first round of hiring.

There has been controversy over whether a new marshals force is needed. Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP and the union representing Mounties say the money would be better spent expanding the RCMP.