As Saskatoon looks ahead to 2026, Police Chief Cam McBride characterizes the past year as a period of significant adaptation, marked by both successes and the pressures of serving a rapidly expanding city.
Balancing Success with a Surging Population
In a year-end interview, Chief Cam McBride summarized 2025 for the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) with a telling ratio: "90 per cent awesome, 10 per cent challenging." The primary challenge stems directly from the city's explosive growth. Since 2022, Saskatoon's population has swelled by approximately 35,000 new residents, placing increased demands on police resources and response capabilities.
Budget Increases and Strategic Hiring
To address this growth, the recently approved city budget provides substantial funding increases for the police service. The SPS will receive an 8.6 per cent budget boost in 2026, followed by a 6.2 per cent increase in 2027. This combined injection of $22.2 million will finance the creation of 58 new positions over those two years—24 in 2026 and 34 in 2027.
Chief McBride acknowledges the significant responsibility that comes with this funding, which accounts for a quarter of the city's total budget. "I do understand that the police budget led to an increase in the mill rate and I don't take that for granted," he stated. The budget increases are supported by property tax hikes, with mill rates set to rise 6.7 per cent in 2026 and 5.81 per cent in 2027.
With the new resources, the chief's focus for the coming year is on executing the service's strategic and business plans. "I think we'll be in a far better position both to do proactive work and to better distribute our police officers throughout the city," McBride said, expressing confidence in the service's staffing projections.
Infrastructure Strains and Targeted Initiatives
The expansion is not without its logistical hurdles. McBride noted that the growing workforce is putting a strain on the police headquarters, with some investigative areas "bursting at the seams." Future solutions may include redesigning or expanding the current headquarters or decentralizing operations. "Do we move to a precinct model, or do we take sections or divisions from inside and move them to alternate spaces within the city?" he pondered.
The past year also saw the continued development of targeted policing initiatives. A key example is the warrant enforcement unit, established in response to recommendations from the James Smith Cree Nation Coroner's Inquest. This unit specifically focuses on apprehending violent offenders who have outstanding warrants.
Looking forward, Chief McBride emphasized that if population growth continues at its current pace, staffing levels may again become a concern. However, the planned investments and strategic adaptations aim to ensure the Saskatoon Police Service can meet the evolving safety needs of one of Canada's fastest-growing cities.
