The union representing deputy sheriffs says 14 jobs have been cut in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, North Battleford and Weyburn.
The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union says losing the deputy sheriffs will jeopardize public safety.
They screen people entering a courthouse, operate detention areas, escort prisoners inside the courthouse, provide courtroom security and transport prisoners by vehicle.
The union says deputy sheriffs carry firearms.
Union president Bob Bymoen says it’s his understanding that the work will be contracted out to commissionaires who don’t have the same level of training and are not armed.
Bymoen says government’s mismanagement of public funds is to blame for the job cuts.
“This is the fallout of government wasting millions of dollars – and it’s having real-life consequences on people’s lives,” SGEU President Bob Bymoen said in a statement.
“Deputy Sheriffs keep vulnerable people safe, and ensure public safety.”
Bymoen said that the government has “squandered money on costly privatization schemes.”
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“The Sask. Party government wasted $40 million on lean consultants, gave $2 billion to a private corporation in France to build a bypass, and spent $61 million on highways consultants,” Bymoen said.
“Meanwhile, frontline staff – the workers who reliably and efficiently provide vital services to Saskatchewan people – are facing job cuts, at the expense of their livelihoods, their families, and the people they serve.”
SGEU also criticized the Global Transportation Hub land deal, the partnership with Skip the Dishes which is eligible to pick up $3 million for job training and SaskPower removing installed smart metres, costing around $15 million.
READ MORE: Lawsuit filed against the Sask. Party over the GTH land deal
“Saskatchewan people shouldn’t be forced to pay the price of this government’s bad financial decisions,” Bymoen said.
“Someone has to do the critical work that Deputy Sheriffs do, which means government will out-source it to private contractors. The new contracts come at a cost. We either pay for quality, or accept lesser security in our courts, costing Saskatchewan people more in the long run.”
Justice Minister Gord Wyant says 16 positions will be cut, disputing the union number.
He says those are perimeter security staff, the workers who screen people entering courthouses. The justice minister says they are not currently armed.
“We not dealing with the in-court security and we’re not dealing with prisoner transport,” Wyant said at the legislature.
Wyant says whoever wins the contract to replace the deputy sheriffs will need to meet stringent requirements.
But he wants them to do the job for less money. He won’t say how much the province is hoping to save.
“We want to make sure, of course, that there’s adequate security at the courthouse,” he said.
“But I think if we provide that service to the courthouse in a more cost effective way – providing of course that we can continue to ensure the safety and security of those that use the courthouse – I think that’s a responsible use of taxpayers money.”
A government spokeswoman said in an email that an armed deputy sheriff will solely to surveillance at the entrance of courthouses.
With files from Alexa Huffman
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