Sending officers to help at G7 Summit in Alberta won’t affect policing here, WPS assures city

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This article was published 22/04/2025 (188 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The loss of more than two dozen city police officers for a few days in June won’t create any problems for Winnipeggers despite past concerns over growing local demands for emergency services, executive policy committee was told Tuesday.

A Winnipeg Police Service report presented to the mayor’s cabinet offers assurances that diverting as many as 28 officers to help secure the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Alberta will not compromise operations here.

“The WPS has considered … the day-to-day operations of the WPS during this deployment and will ensure contingency plans are in place to ensure that the citizens of Winnipeg are not impacted,” wrote Kim Nicholson, WPS executive director of strategic affairs.

The report seeks approval for WPS to enter a contract with the Calgary Police Service that would see Winnipeg officers assist at the high-profile event in Kananaskis beginning June 14.

The summit, which will be attended by Canada’s prime minister and the leaders of the Group of Seven nations — the U.K., France, Germany, Japan, Italy and the United States, along with a representative from the European Union — begins the following day and continues until June 17.

Council’s executive policy committee approved the proposal Tuesday, which now awaits a final council vote.

The report also calls for city council to delegate authority to the police chief to negotiate and approve the exact terms and conditions of the contract, and others that follow.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said police have shared resources to keep large events safe in the past.

“I don’t think it’s uncommon when there’s been something of this magnitude… police departments across the nation have done this before, where they call on one another to provide some support,” he said.

While the federal government will ultimately cover the cost to police the event, WPS did not provide an estimate of how much it could be reimbursed for Winnipeg’s contribution.

Gillingham said he would like that figure to be released in the future.

“It’s ultimately the same taxpayers paying, just through a different level of government,” he said.

The mayor said he isn’t concerned providing the officers would cause any strain on the ability of WPS to protect Winnipeggers.

“My expectation is that the chief would look at this request in light of the fact that it’s a busy time of year for police traditionally but find a way to make sure that… it would not come at the expense of public safety here in Winnipeg,” said Gillingham.

Coun. Markus Chambers, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said he also expects no issues for Winnipeg services under the proposed agreement.

“There’s no impact to the citizens of Winnipeg. There’s no impact to the service. These are officers that are on their down time. There will be no cost to the service,” said Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River).

The mayor doesn’t expect the call to give the WPS chief the authority to approve conditions of “future similar contracts” would reduce transparency.

Gillingham said financial updates and other police reporting could still shed light on any agreement, even if council approval were no longer required to enter one.

The Calgary Police Service and Royal Canadian Mounted Police are leading security at this year’s summit, while other local forces have also been asked for help.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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