Mounties prioritize Manitoba officer applications in effort to reduce high vacancy rate in province

The RCMP has started prioritizing front-line officer applicants from Manitoba in a new bid to chip away at the national police service’s highest vacancy rate outside the territories.

Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy, the commanding officer for Manitoba RCMP, said the vacancy rate for provincial contract policing was slightly less than 15 per cent in October.

“In the last few years, Manitoba has been lagging, I would say, in terms of its human resources,” McMurchy said Tuesday. “With the commitment of the national program, and all the commanding officers across the country, we’ve seen an uptick here with Manitoba being prioritized in terms of its applicants.”

Manitoba RCMP’s rate of unfilled positions is slightly higher than Saskatchewan’s amid a nationwide staff shortage. Some provinces are between five and 10 per cent.

Manitoba RCMP’s vacancy rate climbed from six per cent in April 2021, the highest in Canada at the time, to about 15 per cent in January, when officers from other provinces were asked to temporarily fill gaps, mainly in northern Manitoba.

Manitoba RCMP has an internal relief program in which officers are temporarily reassigned to shorthanded detachments. Speciality units can be called upon when required.

Some shifts are covered by officers on overtime. McMurchy said the service is mindful of that, and it carefully watches officers to ensure they do not burn out.

The most challenging area to staff is the North, which has smaller detachments in remote, isolated communities.

“It goes without saying Manitoba has a number of geographic challenges,” McMurchy said.

“It goes without saying Manitoba has a number of geographic challenges.”

Despite the shortage, he said the RCMP does “a very good job” of responding to calls, regardless of priority.

McMurchy said Manitoba RCMP is expected to be close to its goal of adding 100 officers in the 2025-26 fiscal year. He predicted it could take another year to return to five per cent vacancy, a nationwide goal.

To assist with that, cadet training applicants from Manitoba are to be expedited and — if they pass the application process and vetting — placed in a troop with the intent that they will return to the province upon graduation, McMurchy said.

This makes it an ideal time for prospective recruits from Manitoba to apply, he said.

Prior to the measure, about 70-75 per cent of graduates from Manitoba returned to the province for their first posting, according to an RCMP study.

Nationwide, the RCMP reported more than 21,000 applicants in 2024-2025, an increase of 18 per cent compared with the previous fiscal year.

McMurchy said Manitoba RCMP’s recruiters are leading the country in terms of per capita recruitment of applicants.

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities is eager to work with the province and RCMP to fill positions, given that crime and public safety are among its members’ top concerns.

“We need to continue to make this a real issue, and we need to collectively work together to solve it,” said AMM president Kathy Valentino, who is a councillor in Thompson.

“In rural Manitoba, the streets aren’t safe. We need to do something together to make sure we have a police presence and safety in our communities.”

“We need to do something together to make sure we have a police presence and safety in our communities.”

The AMM floated the idea of offering incentives, she said.

At the RCMP detachment in Swan River, seven of 19 officer positions were vacant as of last week. Some were “soft” vacancies, which involve officers on leave for parental, medical or other reasons.

In addition, a three-member general investigative section — funded by the Manitoba government and four local municipalities — is not yet fully staffed, nearly a year after being announced.

“I would be lying if I said it didn’t affect the delivery of service,” Mayor Lance Jacobson said of the vacancies. “It’s a huge concern for us.”

The City of Portage la Prairie has a contract for 27 officers, but its complement is usually about 24 officers, said Mayor Sharilyn Knox.

“It’s been a long time since we had a full complement,” she said. “There is absolutely still the need to bring more officers to Manitoba.”

“There is absolutely still the need to bring more officers to Manitoba.”

Portage launched a community safety officer program in 2024, with provincial support, to help carry out some tasks, including foot patrols and crisis-response work.

Municipalities already have an eye toward March 2032, when the RCMP’s current 20-year police service agreements are set to expire.

“Municipalities need to be meaningfully consulted on what’s happening. Is there going to be another RCMP contract?” Valentino said.

Unions representing RCMP civilian staff have voiced concerns about staffing. In March, CUPE 104, which represents operators and dispatchers, said almost 43 per cent of Canada-wide positions were vacant.

Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe last week urged the federal government to “step up” recruiting efforts for staff, while pointing to the province’s funding of additional RCMP positions. Public Safety Canada deferred comment to the RCMP.

Progressive Conservative justice critic Wayne Balcaen described the NDP government’s funding announcements as political stunts, given staff shortages are no secret.

The former Brandon police chief said shortages can undermine the public’s trust and confidence in the justice system, and lead to higher levels of stress or burnout among remaining officers.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca