Urban leaders in Saskatchewan want authority given to local RCMP detachments to close highways.
They voted on the resolution Tuesday at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention.
The resolution was brought forward after tow truck driver Courtney Schaefer was killed last March while responding to a crash on Highway 22 near Gerald.
“We did some checking and we found out that RCMP requested the highway, those highways, be shut down five times to the Ministry of Highways and they were refused,” Churchbridge Mayor Jim Gallant said.
Only the Ministry of Highways can currently shut down roads.
“We work in partnership with the ministry and may inform them when less than ideal conditions or other factors exist impacting roads in our detachment areas,” Saskatchewan RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob Embree said. “We would contact them and have them assess the situation.”
Local leaders said that takes time and RCMP on the scene should be able to make the decision whether or not to close the road – a model that is used in Manitoba.
“It’s a safety thing and we can save lives by allowing the RCMP to easily shut down the highways,” Gallant said.
Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, David Marit said he’s not aware of the specific request put in by RCMP at the time of Schaefer’s death.
“In some cases unfortunately the jurisdictions are so huge right and it usually comes down to a timing issue and issues like that, but also in coordinating with our folks to insure that the highways rightfully have to be closed and for what reasons,” Marit said.
The proposal will now go to the ministry office, where Marit says he is willing to drive the procedure in a different direction.
“Our number one focus is highway safety,” Marit said. “So if it means making some changes to make it work that way, we will definitely look at those.”
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