The provincial government remains tight-lipped about why the Moose Jaw Police Service requires a tactical unit, going so far as to redact over 100 pages related to the topic.
The Moose Jaw Express submitted a freedom of information request to the Ministry of Policing and Corrections and Ministry of Justice asking for all documents related to the police service’s tactical/SWAT unit, including the equipment required, the number of officers committed and the reasons the agency needs the unit.
In response, the province emailed a 111-page package with reports and emails about the tactical unit. However, 91 pages — 82 per cent of the document — were either partially or fully redacted and without information.
Large red letters and numbers were splashed across most pages, indicating the sections in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) preventing the province from revealing the information.
The four main sections included 15(1)(c), 15(1)(k), 17(1)(a) and 17(1)(b)(i).
Section 15(1)(c) says that “a head may refuse to give access to a record, the release of which could” “interfere with a lawful investigation or disclose information with respect to a lawful investigation.”
Section 15(1)(k) says that “a head may refuse to give access to a record, the release of which could” “interfere with a law enforcement matter or disclose information respecting a law enforcement matter.”
Section 17(1)(a) says that “a head may refuse to give access to a record that could reasonably be expected to disclose: (a) advice, proposals, recommendations, analyses or policy options developed by or for a government institution or a member of the Executive Council.”
Meanwhile, section 17(1)(b)(i) says that “a head may refuse to give access to a record that could reasonably be expected to disclose” “consultations or deliberations involving: (i) officers or employees of a government institution.”
Most of the documents the province provided are from Jan. 21 to April 11, 2022.
The Express had asked for documents between January 2020 and May 2022 because Police Chief Rick Bourassa said in January 2020 that the organization began developing a tactical unit the year before. Furthermore, during a presentation to city council in November 2021, the police service asked for funding to further build the tactical unit.
One reason the police service says it needs a tactical unit is to handle risky situations in the community.
One document shows the Moose Jaw Police Service submitted an application to the province for funding on Feb. 17, 2022. All the reasons the police wanted funding for the tactical unit are redacted under sections 15(1)(c), 15(1)(k), and 17(1)(a).
Areas redacted include the purchase, program or initiative and budget amount requested; the effect the unit could have on unlawful activities and how it could promote safer communities; how the MJPS planned to evaluate or monitor the program; whether the agency planned to provide matching funds; and how funding would continue in the long term.
Other documents show the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund Committee met virtually in March to discuss an application the MJPS had made seeking money to support the tactical unit.
The province later announced on March 30 that the MJPS would receive $70,000 from that fund to purchase tactical equipment to enhance officers’ protection when responding to high-risk situations.
“This will be one-time funding and this disbursement will not be used to support normal operating costs,” one document said.
The one upside to receiving 111 pages of mostly blank pages that provided no new information about the tactical unit is the Express only had to pay $60 to acquire the package.
