Image: RCMP Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Winnipeg/CMEDIA: Manitoba’s plans for more overtime to help patrol the border has reportedly caused great concern to the National association representing RCMP officers.
In addition to extra help from conservation officers, announced earlier this month, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has reportedly said that the provincial government will pay Mounties overtime to step up with commercial truck inspectors.
The move was in response to Donald Trump’s demand on Canada to increase border security or face 25 per cent tariffs.
“We are going to ensure that we have resources to ensure that we can secure the border here in Manitoba,” Kinew said.
The union representing truck inspectors was caught off-guard by the announcement.
However RCMP officers are already feeling the pressure because of the high number of homicides and violent crimes, the National Police Federation said
“I think it will be a challenge…They have a job and a full slate of work already, and adding more to their plate is really going to mean we need more of them,” Kyle Ross, Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) president has said.
In contrast to Ontario Premier, Doug Ford’s threat to shut off the power supply to three U.S. states if Trump follows through with tariffs, Kinew said that although Manitoba is considering retaliatory measures if needed, he did not go into specifics, and added,
“For our part here in Manitoba, we’re making a list, we’re checking it twice and we’ll be ready for Jan. 20,” Kinew said.
