Ottawa, Manitoba commit $163.5M to First Nations policing

The federal and Manitoba governments announced $163.5 million on Oct. 16 for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service and the Manitoba First Nations Safety Officer Program, with the money flowing through the federal First Nations and Inuit Policing Program.

The announcement was made in Brandon, Man., by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, according to a joint news release from Public Safety Canada.

About $121 million over four years goes to the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, the release said. Ottawa is contributing $62.8 million and Manitoba $58 million under tripartite agreements that split costs 52 per cent federal and 48 per cent provincial. The funding covers April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2027.

The police service is to get a dedicated training academy and will expand into Fisher River Cree Nation and Gambler First Nation. Separately, the federal government provided two one-time payments: $3.5 million in January for training, equipment and security, and just over $5 million for equipment covering April 2023 to March 2025.

The Safety Officer Program expansion totals $42.5 million, made up of $22.1 million from Ottawa and $20.4 million from Manitoba, and covers April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028. The program is open to every First Nation in Manitoba that wants to take part, and the governments said the goal is dedicated safety officer capacity in every community by March 2028.

Safety officers help prevent crime, respond to local safety concerns, enforce community bylaws and certain provincial laws, and support police when required, the release said. The funding also pays for enhanced training, equipment and communications tools.

Anandasangaree said in the release that the investments were made by working together with Manitoba and First Nations. Wiebe said every community across Manitoba deserves policing and community safety services that understand and support its needs, and that the investments will strengthen First Nations-led policing and expand the reach of First Nations Safety Officers.

The release did not include a statement from the police service or from First Nations leaders. Details of the service and its operations are published by the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, and information on the safety officer program is on the Manitoba government website.

The federal policing program has been repeatedly topped up. The release cited $250 million over five years plus $92.5 million ongoing in Budget 2024, and $540.3 million over five years plus $126.8 million ongoing in Budget 2021, along with separate money for policing facilities.

The announcement comes as Ottawa and First Nations leaders prepare for broader talks. Chiefs are set to sit with Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers on Oct. 26, and the Assembly of First Nations has pressed for proof that Bill C-39 delivers on Indigenous rights. A court recently criticized Ottawa over a Manitoba First Nations land debt.

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