Carla Beck commits to scrapping Marshals Service, investing in mental health and addictions, local police instead

Beck government to be tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime

REGINA - Today, Saskatchewan Opposition Leader Carla Beck announced that her government will scrap the Sask. Party’s redundant Marshals Service and invest the money in local police forces and addictions treatment.

“We used to be one of the only places in the world where front doors were left unlocked,” said Beck. “After 16 years of Sask. Party government, crime, homelessness and addictions are getting out of control, and we need a new approach.”

The Sask. Party government is saying that the Marshals Service will only cost $20 million annually. Beck said that her government would get more boots on the ground by bypassing the red tape and bureaucracy of the Sask. Marshals Service and investing $10 million annually in local police forces and the RCMP.

“The Sask. Party’s plan to add a third police bureaucracy will mean more pencil pushers when what we really need are more police in our communities,” said Beck. “Less pencil pushers, more police.”

The remaining $10 million would go toward addictions treatment and fighting drug abuse. According to the Saskatchewan Coroners Service, the province is again on track for another year of record overdose deaths.

“We need to be tough on crime and tough on the causes of the crime,” said Beck. “Saskatchewanian people are tired of feeling unsafe and unsupported by their government.”

Beck's announcement today marks her second major campaign commitment, following on her Hire Saskatchewan plan which would prioritize hiring Saskatchewan workers and companies and using made-in-Saskatchewan materials for all public infrastructure projects and public contracts.

Since Scott Moe came to office, the Sask. Party government has had the worst job creation record in Canada and has prioritized hiring out-of-province companies for public projects small and large. Notably, a French company was hired for the multi-billion-dollar Regina Bypass, and a US-based company is currently operating the Saskatchewan Parks Call Centre in the United States.

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