RCMP detachments across the country brace for pandemic-driven staff shortages
CBC
With the highly transmissible Omicron variant sweeping the country and putting emergency services under intense pressure, the RCMP says it has contingency plans in place to cope with pandemic-related staff shortages.
A spokesperson for the RCMP's E division, which serves British Columbia, said it's preparing for a surge in the number of officers calling in sick.
Citing operational reasons, Sgt. Chris Manseau wouldn't say how many officers and civilians in the RCMP are down with COVID-19 now. He said most cases among RCMP officers to date have been related to community or personal contacts, not policing duties or interactions with the public.
"We anticipate that there could be a rise in employees either requiring sick leave or requiring time off due to possible symptoms or exposures," he said.
"We have contingency plans in place and individual units or detachments will enact them based on essential service requirements. Units and programs have been asked to review their business continuity plans to ensure process and procedures are in place to maintain essential service levels where human resources are significantly reduced."
Those plans include leaning on other detachments and deploying reservists, if necessary, to make sure shifts are covered.
"Fortunately, we have members in many specialty sections that can be relied upon should frontline policing need supplementing temporarily," said Manseau.
The RCMP's Surrey, B.C., detachment reports that it has seen a "big jump" in pandemic-related illness. The detachment said that as of Thursday, 42 of its officers were off work due to COVID-19 because they had tested positive or were awaiting test results.
New Brunswick's RCMP division said it has similar plans to make sure patrols are kept up.
In Alberta, Cpl. Deanna Fontaine said that while multiple Mounties have been in isolation, their numbers remain low.
"Alberta RCMP can confirm that our policing operations have not been affected by the new variant and we have not had to redeploy policing resources to maintain those operations," she said.
"As public safety is our top priority, in the event that we experience a higher than normal level of absenteeism due to illness, the Alberta RCMP have contingency plans in place to ensure there are no disruptions to our operations."
Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan are also reporting spikes in the number of Mounties off the job due to COVID-19.
"We can confirm that officers in a number of detachments across Manitoba have tested positive or have symptoms of COVID-19 and are in isolation," said Tara Seel, spokesperson for the RCMP in that province.
A woman is dead after a collision on Highway 401 near Dixie Road in Mississauga, according to paramedics.
It’s been 200 years since London, Ont., was first legally founded as a small village at the Forks of the Thames River, and according to city hall and a number of local historians, heritage advocates and organizations, it’s an anniversary that’s well worth celebrating in a big way.
A man is facing more than a dozen charges including sexual assault and forcible confinement after Toronto police say three people were attacked on New Year's Eve and there may be more victims.
It's hard to go a day in Calgary without seeing magpies or hearing their iconic screech.
When Joanne Cole’s Western Bay art studio burned down in August, she lost 30 years of work.
The past year included a Canadian election, an Ontario election and countless stories about Canada’s relationship with the U.S. in the wake of the Trump administration.
Here’s a list of what will be open and closed in the Halifax area on Jan. 1:
Misty Schofield, a Saint John social worker, was sitting in her warm home on Christmas Day when she started to think about her clients.
Romaine LeGallou heard the Supreme Court of Canada was turning 150 and needed a wardrobe update. And after that, everything seemed to happen so quickly.
As we enter a new year, politicians at every level of government are promising to make your lives more affordable.
After her first year as Saskatoon's mayor was dominated by the homelessness crisis, Cynthia Block expects big news about a future housing development this year.
This story was first published on Oct. 20, 2025.
From three premiers in one year to demands for deeper accountability in the education system, a bone-dry August, and long-promised bridge and ferry toll cuts, 2025 delivered no shortage of news.