Provincial government pauses tactical unit for Sask. Marshals Service

Alexander Quon · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 21, 2026 11:35 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 21

Saskatchewan's newest police force was gearing up for a SWAT team, but now those plans are on hold after critics questioned the purpose and cost of the unit.

Minister of Community Safety Michael Weger confirmed that he and Chief Marshal Robert Cameron were unaware of a document asking for bids to equip a specialized response unit (SRU) until they were informed on Aug. 13.

Weger said the tender was issued by an unnamed marshals employee who was attempting to get the ball rolling on the SRU's development.

"The individual that submitted that request for bid, they got, I would say overly ambitious, which again, I'll take overly ambitious over lazy any day of the week, but overly ambitious on starting the process of a specialized response unit when we're not ready for that yet," Weger said at a news conference in Regina on Friday.

Earlier this week, CBC reported that the police force was looking for someone to supply the proposed tactical unit with sniper rifles, remotely operable hydraulic breaching tools, thermal cameras, night vision goggles, ballistic helmets and shields, and long-range acoustic devices.

A request for bids had been published online and the tender closed earlier this week.

On Wednesday, Premier Scott Moe told reporters that he had no knowledge of the request for bids.

"The government's asking some questions with respect as to whether that [tender] should be moving forward," Moe said.

• Does the Saskatchewan Marshals Service need its own tactical unit?

He said the government wants to see the Marshals Service focusing on supporting other enforcement agencies.

On Friday, Weger said there will be "no equipment purchased for this unit."

Weger also confirmed that he wants the force to be focused on recruiting its full complement of 70 officers and building relationships with the Saskatchewan RCMP, municipal and First Nations police forces to strengthen community safety.

Weger said Cameron has given his commitment that "there will be a review of the policies in place before something like this were to happen again."

WATCH | Province pauses SWAT unit for Sask. Marshals, says eager employee responsible for tender:

The marshals launched in May 2025 with a mandate to help other policing agencies fight rural crime, gangs and drugs. The force was also given the responsibility of arresting high-risk offenders with outstanding warrants.

Cameron told CBC earlier this week that a serious response unit (SRU) has always been part of the plans for the marshals. 

"The SRU would support our main mandate, and specific to the Marshals Service itself is the pursuit of those that are wanted on warrants or prolific offenders or people involved in high-impact and high-risk crime," Cameron said.

Although the specialized unit is now paused, Weger did not rule out its creation sometime in the future.

He said he will personally sign off on any decision about whether that happens.

WATCH | Can Sask. marshals justify the cost of their own SWAT team:

Concerns on cost

The proposed tactical unit raised some concerns for Amrin Asfari, the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan Chair in Police Studies in the criminology department at the University of Regina.

He said the unit could replicate services already provided by the Regina Police Service, Saskatoon Police Service, Prince Albert Police Service and Saskatchewan RCMP, each of which have their own tactical units.

Asfari said a tactical unit is not required every day, and suggested the cost of gear and training could potentially reach millions of dollars. 

"I question the need for one, really, where there can be collaboration between them and the RCMP as well as these municipal agencies," Asfari said. 

Hugh Gordon, the NDP's critic for community safety and a former RCMP officer, echoed those concerns about the SRU.

On Friday, Gordon once again took aim at the cost of the equipment and specialized training, and at Weger.

"This bid should never have gone out in the first place and the only reason the minister is walking back this bid is because it appears he got caught napping on an important purchase in his own agency," Gordon said.