Natural Resources and Northern Development Minister Greg Nesbitt announced that the Manitoba government will invest approximately $1.7 million as part of its plan to revitalize the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service.
“Manitoba’s conservation officers provide valuable front-line services and this investment enhances public safety, the safety of our officers and better protect our abundant natural resources,” said Nesbitt. “I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the exemplary service our conservation officers provide all across this province. Thank you for your sacrifice, dedication and professionalism and, most importantly, your unwavering commitment to serving the citizens of Manitoba.”
The new $1.7-million investment will support the purchase of new protective clothing, safety equipment, tactical tools and communications technology, such as radios and cellphone boosters.
The province is also enhancing the operations of the conservation officer service by adding a centralized dispatch communication system. Manitoba is the only province without a centralized dispatch service for its conservation officers.
A central communications service will help ensure the safety of officers in the field and will serve as a foundation for improved co-ordination and support for rural policing and emergency services. The addition of a centralized dispatch builds on a previous investment of $380 million made by the Manitoba government in 2018 to replace Manitoba’s FleetNet emergency communications system, the minister noted.
These investments build on resource enhancements announced earlier this year. In November, the Manitoba government invested $300,000 in new equipment and services to enhance enforcement of illegal night hunting and other unsafe hunting activities. One of the enforcement tools includes a dedicated helicopter service, with the Manitoba government signing a three-year contract with Taiga Air Services Ltd.
“As part of our government’s commitment to revitalizing the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service, these investments will provide better equipment and technology so our officers can effectively and safely work in rural and remote areas of the province,” said Nesbitt. “The safety of our front-line officers is paramount.”
Additionally, 11 new unmarked patrol vehicles were added to the Manitoba Conservation Officer Service fleet. These vehicles provide another tool for conservation officers to use as part of operational tactics, ensuring officers are able to continue offering vital resource protection and public safety activities.
