Sheriff job cuts a hit to public safety, says government union

The loss of three full-time sheriff positions shows the provincial government is "playing loose" with public safety, the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union says.

The union representing 14,000 members of Manitoba's civil service found out Thursday the number of sheriff positions in the province is down to 94 from 97 after reading a justice department expenditure document, said MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky. 

"That just tells me again that public safety is not first and foremost in their minds," she said. "Clearly this government has no limits when it comes to cuts."

Sheriff's officers' duties include transporting prisoners, delivering court documents and maintaining security in the courtroom. 

"Sheriffs do a lot more than just transport inmates to and from courtrooms," Gawronsky said. "They are actually in courtrooms during the scanning when you go in and they're doing the protective services."

In question period Thursday, the NDP's Nahanni Fontaine raised concerns the sheriff job cuts will mean a "dramatic rise" in overtime claims.

"Appropriate staffing levels are critical to maintaining public safety and protecting our court systems," she said. "How can the minister justify these cuts?"

Manitoba Minister of Justice Heather Stefanson said her government has introduced a "strategic innovation unit" tasked with reviewing law enforcement in the province.

"We're very much looking forward to the results of that review," Stefanson said.

"We inherited a mess in our justice system from the previous NDP government. Where they failed, we will deliver."

Gawronsky said she plans to raise concerns about the sheriff job cuts with government on Friday.

At a news conference on Friday Stefanson said nobody was laid off as part of the reduction from 97 to 94 sheriffs, saying two were moved to other units, and a third retired.