Scott Moe and Tim McLeod Image courtesy of Christopher Oldcorn
Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan boosts funding for safer communities, new police officers, faster courts

Christopher Oldcorn

Saskatchewan government is spending big on community safety in its latest provincial budget, with hundreds of millions set aside for policing, justice services, and corrections as part of a sweeping plan to fight crime, modernize the courts, and make neighbourhoods safer.

The 2025-26 budget earmarks $665 million for the Ministry of Corrections, Policing, and Public Safety, $271 million for the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, $118.9 million for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), and $9.1 million for the Saskatchewan Firearms Office (SFO).

“Public safety continues to be a top priority for our government,” said Corrections and Policing Minister Tim McLeod. “These investments in policing, border security, reintegration programs, and new tools to fight gangs, drugs, and weapons will help create safer communities for everyone.”

Total public safety spending across 2024-25 and 2025-26 hits $2 billion, including a two-year $699.4-million boost to policing and community safety and over $518 million to improve access to justice.

This year’s budget provides $261 million to support RCMP operations across the province, including $23.7 million for the First Nations Policing Program. It also includes $6 million to hire 100 new municipal police officers, $2.7 million to expand the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods unit, and $1.6 million for training through the Saskatchewan Police College.

An additional $3.6 million will go toward hiring 50 officers for the new Saskatchewan Marshals Service, which is expected to begin operations ahead of schedule. The service will focus on gangs, weapons, and high-risk offenders.

A further $1.5 million will enhance border security, highway patrols, and public safety, including hiring more commercial vehicle inspectors and prisoner transport sheriffs to free up RCMP resources.

The province is also advancing its Saskatchewan Border Security Plan, launched in January, to coordinate law enforcement activity near the US border.

In the courts, the province is spending $665,000 to expand traffic safety courts and $447,000 to create municipal bylaw court hubs. More than $822,000 will go to Public Prosecutions to manage the growing use of police body-worn cameras.

Another $3.38 million will help modernize courtroom infrastructure and improve scheduling systems as part of the ongoing Court Modernization Project.

“Over the last two years, we have improved police accountability, built community partnerships, and invested in courtroom modernization,” said McLeod. “We’re increasing access to justice services for everyone in Saskatchewan.”

To address capacity and safety concerns in correctional centres, the province is spending $11.7 million to open a new expansion at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre. Additional funding is going toward more capacity for women in custody and more support for reintegration programs through the Elizabeth Fry Society.

Electronic monitoring will also be expanded with a $1.1-million investment to increase real-time tracking of offenders in the community.

The budget includes $31.7 million for interpersonal violence prevention and supports, including $328,000 for second-stage housing and $720,000 for community organizations helping families impacted by violence.

The SPSA will continue its multi-year project to acquire four repurposed air tankers for wildfire and emergency use.

Finally, the Saskatchewan Firearms Office will receive $9.1 million, including $569,000 for the new Saskatchewan Ballistics Laboratory, set to open this fall. The facility will support firearms investigations and help combat gun violence in the province.