REGINA — During the upcoming provincial election, the priority list of every Saskatchewan Municipality may vary, but one issue appears among them all, additional support for tackling crime in rural communities, states the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities in a press release
According to Statistics Canada’s most recent report on rural crime in 2021, Saskatchewan had the highest crime severity index for rural offences.
Rural Saskatchewan challenges when it comes to rural crime include:
- Geographical spread
- Limited resources
- Longer emergency response times
- Less access to specialized services
“Rural Saskatchewan continues to grapple with a wide range of issues, from property crimes to traffic enforcement, all while balancing the needs of its diverse communities,” says Bill Huber, acting president of SARM.
Crime is on the rise across the province, but rural areas face unique challenges due to Saskatchewan's vast geographical spread, SARM says. With fewer police detachments covering larger regions, response times can stretch between 30 minutes to an hour. This leaves rural properties vulnerable, becoming prime targets for offenders. Farmers often experience theft of fuel, machinery and parts, resulting in both financial losses and increased insurance premiums.
Meanwhile, RCMP officers must cover long distances to track down offenders and recover stolen items, in addition to preparing extensive paperwork for court cases, SARM reports. Despite their efforts, penalties for crimes like theft and vandalism tend to be minimal, often leading to repeat offences. Current fines and convictions do little to deter reoffending, SARM states.
“As we anticipate more officers being added to rural areas, SARM continues to push the provincial government for sustained support in increasing police staffing, imposing tougher penalties, and developing new initiatives to enhance collaboration between officers and communities. We also call for increased efforts to address the root causes of crime, such as issues stemming from mental health and addictions,” adds Huber.
2024 Provincial Election Priorities
The following are SARM’s key areas of focus for the upcoming provincial election. This release is the third in a series highlighting the rural challenges around each.
- Infrastructure
- Health care
- Policing and crime
- Agriculture
- Submitted by SARM
