REGINA – Fewer than 400 cadets were enrolled at Depot Division last year, less than half the annual average.
“We, as any other federal government department were required to put a plan in place to respond to the federal government’s deficit reduction action plan,” said RCMP Chief Superintendent Garry Jay, director general of human resource services.
Part of that plan included moving members in administrative duties into other roles and filling those positions with civilians. Hence, Jay said, there was less need for new recruits.
“We’re now at a point where we’re re-evaluating that and our troop for the next upcoming year will be up around a thousand,” he explained.
However, he admitted budget restrictions “impact the number of individuals we have on the front lines.”
“It’s a very tragic situation. The RCMP needs greater investment, not less investment and this decision by the Harper government is moving in exactly the wrong direction,” said Liberal MP Ralph Goodale.
But more money is likely not a reality for the foreseeable future.
“The thrust of budgetary progress in Ottawa here is to have a balanced budget by 2015, so that means all expenditures are looked at very carefully and policing, being an expenditure, will be looked at carefully too,” said Conservative MP Ray Boughen.
Even so, Boughen said there are 2783 more front-line members than there were when the Conservatives took office in 2005.
Boughen said the force will look at making efficiencies, like whether or not two people are needed for a posting, or if they can get away with one. In the meantime, the RCMP wants to assure they are still hiring – and welcome applications.
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