The Manitoba government is introducing a new category of safety officer that will be stationed at health care and post-secondary campuses.

Justice minister Cameron Friesen says institutional safety officers will have the authority, training and the skills to address the unique security concerns due to the size of these facilities and the number of people at them.

"We know that security officers work hard in those places, even in our own communities, to secure and keep those places safe for the people who work there, the people who are receiving care or education there, and the people who visit there but clearly, something else was needed," said Friesen.

Officers will have distinctive uniforms and will be permitted to carry handcuffs, defensive batons and aerosol weapons. Officers will also have the authority to enforce youth consumption and open liquor provisions under The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act as well as the indoor tobacco and outdoor cannabis smoking prohibitions in The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Act. They will also be enabled to take intoxicated persons into custody under The Intoxicated Persons Detention Act and apprehend trespassers under The Petty Trespasses Act.

According to the Province, Manitoba Justice consulted widely with stakeholders on the development of a regulation that specifies required training and equipment, as well as statutory authority of the officers.

Tuesday's announcement explained that only security guards at designated health-care facilities and post-secondary institutions can be trained as institutional safety officers. As well, institutional safety officers must be licensed security guards who have been trained in public safety and crime prevention, enforcement of provincial laws, arrests, searches and seizures, use of force and officer safety, note-taking, interview basics, and court preparation. As well, the officers must be trained in mental health awareness.

"We've had staff have to intervene in places where you're having a real mental health crisis by someone, and it's very important that not just medical personnel, but that security personnel know how to appropriately intervene in ways that, as much as possible, de-escalate a situation," explained Friesen.

Additionally, Friesen says these institutional safety officers will help improve public safety by getting police officers back to active duty sooner.

Often, police officers escort people to hospital under the Mental Health act and can't leave right away as they wait to safely hand-off the person to hospital personnel. Friesen says these officers could help with that.

"We've done a lot behind the scenes including creating a new designation at hospitals, a qualified person, people who have that capability to have that hand-off from police. Having these officers, maybe some of these people can end up being the qualified persons to safety accept care for an individual, allowing a police escort to return to their duties," he explained.

Authorized training providers will include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Winnipeg Police Service, Brandon Police Service, Manitoba Justice and Assiniboine Community College. Other training providers may be approved by Manitoba Justice following a review of their training curriculum.