Labour Shortage Hits RCMP

Friday, January 19, 2007 04:00 AM

The labour shortage isn't limited to the oil patch, construction or natural resource industry, the RCMP are also facing a recruitment squeeze.

"We need 3 thousand to 4,000 replacements each year, just to keep pace with the current staff levels "says Chief Superintendent Barry Clark of North District. He says as the baby boom generation makes moves towards retirement, there are serious challenges to keeping the ranks full.

"If you know of anyone who thinks they might like to apply, I can tell you things have changed." says Clark. He says people need to know, you don't need to have a college or university degree and the days of the RCMP looking to fill its minority gaps are over. "I can tell you, the white- anglo-saxon- male, is welcome to apply!"

Clark says the RCMP just isn't getting the numbers of applicants it used to get "People just don't seem interested anymore". In addition to the lower numbers signing up, there are also problems keeping recruits in the north. He says many agree to spend a couple of years in the north, then , when they have gained enough experience, they apply to be transferred to warmer areas, like the Okanagan or the Island.

The good news, a new commander has been found for the McBride Detachment, a Corporal from Nunavut will be heading to the area likely in April.

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Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Chadermando on January 19 2007 7:20 AM

Only a few years ago you were told not to apply if you were a white male. IMO that discrimination has been catching up with the force and its quality of recruits based on racial quota. Good to see they are relooking at that policy.

Posted by: metalman on January 19 2007 8:02 AM

I too am aware of the policy from the late eighties-early nineties whereby they were favouring persons of colour, racial minorities, and females over white anglo saxon protestant males. I do not believe there is any problem with hiring any of the above, however is it not obvious that you are not going to get the best candidates for a job as a policeman if your criteria is 'not w.a.s.p.' They were filling quotas, not recruiting the best persons for the career position. It is my opinion this thinning of talent has led to TRAVESTIES like the unwarranted shooting of Kevin St. Arnaud, and Ian Bush, and many others. I truly believe that these underqualified individuals panic far too easily, pulling their gun and shooting at people at the slightest sign of resistance. I mean come on, these two guys were unarmed!! NEWS FLASH it is possible to restrain and control an unarmed person without shooting them! even if they are brandishing a knife, you can control them, don't they teach these people anything about self defense? courage? They should not be on the front lines if they cannot handle the incredible stress of a suspect who won't obey your command, and feel they must shoot them to stop the flaunting,or the threatening words.
Sorry, people, this topic is a hot one for me.
metalman.

Posted by: Harbinger on January 19 2007 1:49 PM

Labour shortage in the R.C.M.P? Hmmmm? Never mind organized crime. keep those traffic fines coming in no matter what. Gotta make a buck somehow. Right?

Posted by: lmorg on January 19 2007 6:57 PM

McBride? Well, that's south of Nanuvut...ha ha. I can see the McBride detachment shutting down soon since the little town itself is dying. Soon it won't be feasible to have a detachment there as there won't be much of a population to police.

I don't understand Mr. Clark's comment about recruits wishing to leave the north... I hear the RCMP is transferring members around a little more regularly now, but instead why not allow members who have experience in the north to stay in the north if that is what they want to do instead of transferring them? People who want to leave the north can do so when the time comes, but if they wish to stay, let them. Seems it would be cheaper for the RCMP anyways.

I have some buds in the RCMP and their view is that the reason why recruitment is down is cuz the word is getting out that the rcmp is not a favorite employer anymore. Management treats the guys who are on the road like pieces of s**t. Its ironic....the rcmp are well respected all around the world except in their own country....go figure.

Posted by: Harbinger on January 19 2007 7:47 PM

My pal told me that RCMP don't like to be transferred to places that start with Prince or Fort. So I'm told.

Posted by: thereasonableman on January 20 2007 5:43 PM

Waa, another story in the remarkable saga of the baby boomers leaving Gen X with a horrible mess as a result of all their mismanagement, and now we are not interested in owning it. Who is going to protect us in our old age ?

Robin Hood.

Posted by: thereasonableman on January 20 2007 5:44 PM

P.S. The job is only attractive to people who are afraid of doing real work. That's your recruit these days.

Posted by: thereasonableman on January 20 2007 11:21 PM

God, I sure wish I could go back to the days of picking up passed out drunks who've pissed and sh!t themselves off city streets all night for a wage you can barely live off of....not !!