As Ottawa prepares to end the federal band constable program, the provincial government is stepping up to help ensure adequate law enforcement on Manitoba reserves.
The NDP government on Wednesday introduced legislation that would create the new First Nations Safety Officer Program, a move welcomed by Chief Jim Bear of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation.
“All Manitobans have the right to bring up their families in a safe environment, regardless of where they live in the province,” said Bear. “We look forward to working with the province to establish a new level of high-quality policing that will address the specific needs of First Nations communities.”
James Allum, provincial justice minister, said the announcement reflects an opportunity to work with First Nations and Ottawa to replace the federal band constable program with “a more appropriate model, tailored to the specific needs of individual First Nations communities.”
Added Allum: “The new model has the potential to improve safety in the affected communities and put a greater emphasis on crime prevention.”
Ottawa has announced that its band constable program will end on March 31, 2015.
Band constables provide a critical first response in their communities, some of which are hours away from the nearest RCMP detachment.
The band constable program currently serves 31 communities.
