The Minister of Justice says she’s been informed by the RCMP’s Assistant Commissioner that the province is in “good shape” when it comes to RCMP recruitment and staffing.

Helen Conway-Ottenheimer was responding to a report by the federal Auditor General Karen Hogan who last month indicated that the federal police force was experiencing staff vacancy rates greater than the force’s critical threshold in 9 of 10 provinces.

Earlier this year Assistant Commission Pat Cahill indicated that Newfoundland and Labrador saw “huge success” in its RCMP recruitment efforts.

The provincial minister says that’s also her understanding.

“I’ve been advised that we don’t need to be concerned about recruiting levels for the RCMP, that we are in good shape when it comes to our RCMP resources here in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

AG Karen Hogan says a more flexible posting plan introduced by the RCMP in 2023 that allowed new officers to choose the province or territory of their first assignment was successful in attracting thousands more applications, it “increased chronic vacancies in some areas.”