N.S. government mulling larger role for RCMP as it restructures policing

Justice Minister Becky Druhan has announced six changes aimed at improving policing, resulting from a review launched in September 2023.

Other changes include creating community safety boards

The Canadian Press · Posted: Jun 25, 2025 3:19 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours ago

A woman in a beige blazer and wearing glasses sits behind a table in front of a blue background. — Attorney General and Nova Scotia Justice Minister Becky Druhan speaks to reporters after the release of a review of the province's policing services on June 25, 2025. (CBC/Pat Callaghan)

The Nova Scotia government says it is considering a larger role for the RCMP as the province restructures and modernizes policing services.

Justice Minister Becky Druhan has announced six changes aimed at improving policing, resulting from a review launched in September 2023.

The review was announced about six months after the Mass Casualty Commission released its final report on the shooting rampage in central and northern Nova Scotia that left 22 people dead in April 2020.

Druhan says municipalities will be allowed to keep their local police as long as the force meets provincial standards; otherwise they will need to switch to the RCMP.

A woman in a dark blazer and dark shirt sits behind a table in front of a backdrop of Canadian and Nova Scotian flags, speaking and gesturing with her hands. — Hayley Crichton, Nova Scotia's executive director of public safety and security, speaks to reporters after the release of a review of the province's policing services on June 25, 2025. (CBC/Pat Callaghan)

As well, the minister says the province will introduce a new billing system for municipal police services, and establish a single police records database to replace the three existing systems.