Saskatchewan NDP promises to hire 100 police officers instead of marshals

Carla Beck says her government would hire 100 police officers across the province if elected on Oct. 28. 

REGINA — Saskatchewan New Democratic Leader Carla Beck says her government would hire 100 police officers across the province if elected on Oct. 28.

Beck has not provided a timeline on when she would meet that target but says she would work to get it done as soon as possible.

She says $10 million per year would go to hiring Mounties and municipal police officers.

Another $10 million each year would go toward addictions treatment and mental health services.

Beck says the money would come from redirecting funds from the incumbent Saskatchewan Party’s marshals service, which has been pegged to cost $20 million a year once operational.

She says she would work with Mounties to address staffing shortages and develop an addictions plan to reverse rising crime rates.

“I’ve heard from so many families who are scared to send their kids down to the corner store after dark, people who are scared to walk their dogs, seniors who are afraid in their houses and people in rural communities who are concerned about the long and growing wait times to respond to RCMP calls,” Beck told reporters in Regina Monday.

“It’s time for change. You deserve to feel safe in your own home and in your own community.”