The Policing Crisis in Northern Saskatchewan

Municipal Affairs
5 hours ago
2 min read

Today, we turn our attention to a growing crisis in northern Saskatchewan—one that is being felt most acutely in La Loche and its surrounding communities. It’s a crisis rooted not in a single issue, but in a chain reaction: an overstretched RCMP, rising crime rates, strained local services, and a lack of the basic supports needed for residents and professionals alike to live and work safely.

In La Loche, a community of nearly 4,000 people—alongside the neighbouring Clearwater River Dene Nation with another 1,500—the math simply doesn’t add up. A small detachment of officers is expected to police multiple communities spread across vast distances.

When two officers must leave La Loche to respond to an emergency 40 minutes away, the community is left exposed for hours at a time. And criminals know it.

The result? Break-ins. Violence. Repeat offenders cycling through a system that locals describe as “catch and release.” Meanwhile, RCMP officers face burnout, community trust erodes, and residents—teachers, nurses, and other essential workers—are reconsidering whether they can stay.

But the story doesn’t end with policing.

It expands into housing shortages so severe that even when mental health therapist positions are funded, they sit vacant because there’s nowhere for professionals to live. It extends into the lack of detox and addictions services.

And it raises an urgent question: how do northern communities build stability when the supports they need simply aren’t there?

This isn’t just a public safety issue. It’s a community wellbeing issue. A housing issue. A healthcare issue. And ultimately, a northern Saskatchewan issue that requires coordinated action.

Mayor Lyle Herman of La Loche has been sounding the alarm—both as mayor and as Vice President of the Northern Caucus of SUMA, representing 35 northern municipalities.

On November 22nd, Mayor Herman travelled to Ottawa to address the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

Last week, we sat down with Mayor Herman to talk about the realities his community is facing, and what solutions he believes must be on the table.

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This edition of Municipal Affairs was sponsored by:

https://www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/

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