2006-07-25
By: Candace Derksen

July 25, 2006

Municipalities are taking a new approach to policing rural areas.

The province is no longer allowing them to hire private bylaw enforcement agencies and is instead allowing them to hire their own special constables.

Winkler Police Chief Rick Hiebert says the special constables and municipalities will need to agree to a memorandum of understanding, stating they understand which specific provincial legislation they are allowed to enforce.

Hiebert notes the old system of bylaw enforcers had no legal framework, stating certain actions occured resulting in the return of fines paid.