Federal public safety minister says Ottawa committed to RCMP reform

Marco Mendicino says RCMP officers need more training and need to communicate better with the public

CITYnews halifax\ Canadian Press

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HALIFAX — Canada’s public safety minister says he recognizes the importance of reforming the RCMP.

Marco Mendicino made the comments to reporters today in Halifax after two days of meetings with provincial and territorial justice and public safety ministers.

Mendicino says the mandate letter he issued to RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki in May directs her to tackle challenges in the force around issues such as recruitment and police resources.

He says RCMP officers need more training and need to communicate better with the public — especially during emergencies such as the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia and last month’s stabbings in Saskatchewan’s James Smith Cree Nation.

Mendicino says Ottawa “embraces” the work of the public inquiry investigating the murder of 22 people in Nova Scotia and is awaiting its recommendations, which are expected in March.

The Halifax meetings with the country’s justice and public safety ministers included a wide range of issues, such as Indigenous policing, gun violence and hate crime, and the policing of Canada’s ports.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2022.

The Canadian Press