Advocates say more consultation, focus needed on police mental health programs – CBC

Police chiefs pleased PACT program renewed in face of COVID-19 fiscal challenges

Jul 17, 2020

As groups across North America call for police services to be defunded in favour of more mental health supports and community-lead programming, the Government of Saskatchewan has increased its funding to police in the province by roughly two per cent.

Funding distributed through the province’s municipal police grants increased by $335,000 year-over-year to roughly $15.455 million, from $15.120 million last year. The money is slated for police services in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and Moose Jaw.

The province said in news releases that the funding will be used to renew Police and Crisis Teams (PACT) in these cities.  PACT units pair a police officer with a mental health professional to help people with mental health issues find  appropriate services.

Only one new PACT member — in Moose Jaw — was added in the province as a result of the funding, with roughly $110,000 being used for that position.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/provincial-police-funding-1.5652797