The Manitoba government announced in Ste. Anne today an increase of 13.7 million in funding to help cover rising policing costs due to increased crime and inflation to help support the work of law enforcement across the province. 

The additional $13.7 million makes for a total of $55.8 million to support increasing municipal policing costs. 

In Ste. Anne, public safety funding will increase to $416,040 from $237,674, an increase of $178,366. 

Mayor of Ste. Anne, Yvan St. Vincent, thanks the Manitoba government for the additional funding. 

“Public safety is of the utmost of importance to our community and this announcement will help us provide consistent support and safety.” 

Chief Marc Robichaud with the Ste. Anne Police Service says the extra funding will be a huge help. 

“The increased operating grant for the Town of Ste. Anne Police Service is a game-changer for our department. This increased funding will empower us to expand our policing capabilities, implement innovative strategies, and strengthen partnerships within the community,” he says. “It will enable us to proactively address public safety concerns, respond effectively to incidents, and ensure the highest level of service to our residents.”  

Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen says the government is extremely grateful for the work police officers do. 

“Police officers put their lives on the line every day to protect Manitobans, keep our communities safe, and enforce the law,” said Goertzen. “They have our government’s unwavering support, and we are proud to have their back and give them the resources they need to carry out the critical work keeping us all safe.” 

Goertzen notes the additional investment reflects a revised per capita calculation aligned with 2021 census data as well as an overall 28 per cent funding increase.  

President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities Kam Blight says this funding will equip municipalities to help safeguard local communities, and more effectively respond to situations that pose a threat to public safety.

“We commend the Manitoba government for listening and acting on the concerns raised by our organization and members about the importance of investing in public safety initiatives to help protect our communities and build a stronger and safer Manitoba.”