Nova Scotia’s plan to increase the RCMP’s role as a provincial police force is drawing concern from municipal leaders across the province.
Mayors of several towns say they are worried about how the shift could affect the future of their own police departments.
Justice Minister Becky Druhan announced the change earlier this week, following a provincial policing review launched in 2023.
She said local police forces are being audited, and those that fail to meet provincial standards could be replaced by the RCMP.
Druhan noted the province will also require future contracts for specialized police services, such as canine units or forensic labs, to be fulfilled by the RCMP.
Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell says his town is satisfied with its own police service and questions the need for change.
“There’s a trend across the country toward municipal policing,” Mitchell said. “I have a lot of questions, and I know it’s early days.”
Bridgewater currently shares services with nearby police forces in Kentville, Truro and Halifax.
Mitchell said the town also works with the RCMP but is concerned whether the national force has the staffing levels needed to deliver specialized services consistently across Nova Scotia.
“I find it a little premature to say any future contracts have to go through the RCMP when they may not be the best service delivery or cost-effective delivery model,” he said.
Truro Mayor Cathy Hinton said her town of 13,000 has no plans to switch.
Its police department includes 35 full-time officers and 16 civilian staff, covering an area of 38 square kilometres.
Hinton said residents are proud of their local force and fear rising costs if forced to adopt provincial standards or contract with the RCMP.
“We don’t know what those costs are going to entail,” Hinton said. “As we try to deal with taxes and budgets, we need to know these unknowns.”
Christine Blair, mayor of the Municipality of Colchester County, supports the shift.
Her community was the site of the April 2020 mass shooting that killed 22 people, beginning in Portapique.
Blair said the RCMP is planning to add seven new officers to her area over the next three years.
The first year alone will bring three new Mounties at an additional cost of $670,000 on the municipality’s $8 million budget.
Blair said her council considered a municipal police force but chose to stick with the RCMP.
“We found that the RCMP would be better for us. It’s a better route to go for our municipality,” she said.
Still, the plan is raising questions in other towns.
Kentville Mayor Andrew Zabian said his town of fewer than 7,000 residents may be forced to consider the RCMP despite wanting to keep its own force of 18 officers.
He’s concerned about being pressured into a switch.
“I do feel like we are kinda being pushed into a corner to switch over,” Zabian said. “I’m not sure that’s the intent but that’s what it feels like.”
Some local leaders believe the province needs to be clearer about the financial and operational impacts of its new approach.
Many municipalities face rising costs in multiple areas, including roads, housing and emergency services.
Mitchell, Hinton and Zabian say they’re not opposed to improving policing, but want the choice to stay local.
They believe strong community policing relies on relationships and knowledge built over years.
For now, it remains unclear how audits will be conducted or what standards must be met to avoid being replaced.
Druhan said current police forces can still request specialized support from other city departments, such as Halifax police.
But she emphasized that future agreements are expected to be contracted with the RCMP.
Mayors say they are waiting for more information and want to make sure their voices are heard.
As Nova Scotia reshapes its policing landscape, local leaders are calling for flexibility, transparency and real consultation.
