RCMP says Saskatchewan commanding officer away, interim head in place
REGINA — RCMP say Saskatchewan's commanding officer will be away for an undetermined period of time effective immediately.
Mounties didn't provide details on Rhonda Blackmore's absence but say assistant commissioner Robin McNeil will serve as interim commanding officer.
They say the decision won't affect front-line policing and that they have confidence in all officers in the province.
Blackmore took command of the Saskatchewan RCMP in April 2021, after serving various posts across Canada for 30 years.
She spent her first years as an officer in the Saskatchewan communities of Assiniboia, Regina and Buffalo Narrows.
In 2022, she launched the RCMP's first unit aimed at recruiting Indigenous people to ensure Mounties represent the communities they serve.
She was also the public face of the force after the mass killings on James Smith Cree Nation in 2022.
-This report was first published by The Canadian Press on June 4, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
23 minutes ago
- CTV News
Recognize this man? Victoria police seek suspect in synagogue vandalism
The Victoria Police Department released this photo of a man suspected in the vandalism of a synagogue on Aug. 2, 2025. Police in Victoria have released a photo of a man they say is a suspect in the antisemitic vandalism of a Victoria synagogue over the long weekend. Officers were called to the Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue on the morning of Aug. 2 when the scrawled statements were discovered, the Victoria Police Department said in a statement. On Wednesday, authorities released an image and appealed to the public for help identifying the suspect. 'VicPD is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all communities and appreciates any information the public may have to assist in this investigation,' the statement said. The graffiti was removed but not before a photo was taken and circulated online by the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, as well as other groups. Premier David Eby took to social media to decry the vandalism as a 'disgusting act of hate' and Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger to say 'hate vandalism, speech and intimidation are not protected expressions – they are crimes and will be treated as such.' Anyone who recognizes the man in the photo or who has information that could assist investigators is urged to call 250-995-7654 and quote file number 25-29663. The synagogue on Blanshard Street was built in 1863. It is a national historic site of Canada and the country's oldest surviving synagogue.
CTV News
23 minutes ago
- CTV News
Woods ban draws mixed reaction, N.S. premier asks residents to work with the government
Nova Scotia's provincewide woods ban has prompted a mix response – understanding, fear, confusion, and even flashbacks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jamie Lee Arseneau, the owner of LaHave River Campground in Barss Corner, N.S., says she was surprised to hear of Tuesday's woods ban. 'We haven't seen far-reaching government control like that since COVID times. So, it just takes you back to those initial feelings of sort of shock,' she said. 'I wouldn't say it's an overreach, because I do understand the need for extreme caution with lack of resources to attend to emergencies in this climate. I think we were just surprised at the lack of connections to fires in woods to now have the woods specifically be restricted in a province that's fuelled on tourism, to be honest.' 'Extremely dry conditions' In a Wednesday interview with CTV Atlantic's Jesse Thomas, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston called the restrictions a difficult decision. 'I'm a Nova Scotian, too. I love to be outside all year-round, but certainly in the summertime… But across the country there are over 750 fires burning in Canada. There are all kinds of evacuations, destruction of personal property, people losing their homes. Not too long ago, just two years ago, in this province we had severe damage and incredible loss of property,' said Houston. 'We're looking at the extremely dry conditions that we have here and the environmental forecast, there is no rain in sight, no significant rain in sight, and listening to the experts.' Houston says experts are warning the risk of wildfires is very high and it will increase. 'We're taking the preventative measures now. We could take these steps while we're fighting fires, while we're dealing with disaster, or we could try and get in front of it,' he said. 'We're asking Nova Scotians to understand the risk and work with us as we try and stay in front of it and try to protect lives and try to protect property and try to protect what we have here in this province.' Constitutional powers As far as what the government can and can't do, law professor Wayne MacKay says it comes down to the constitution. 'From a constitutional powers point of view, clearly this is a matter that falls within provincial jurisdiction, and you can do it, so long as it isn't done in a way that violates the Charter of Rights,' he said. 'Like all constitutional rights, that's subject to reasonable limits, and the reasonable limit that of course is rightly going to be put forward is the very significant risk of forest fires.' MacKay says while the risk is not as severe as during the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of a wildfire is 'very significant.' 'So, the only real question that I think arises is, how are you doing it (placing restrictions)? Are you doing it in a way that respects fair process and respects the rights of people to understand what the laws and restrictions are?' he said. $25,000 fine The province warned Tuesday that those who violate the restrictions will face a fine of $25,000. 'It is, I think, a very significant fine… but it probably is the kind of magnitude that you need to get the people to really pay attention to it. So, in that sense, I think it can be defended but it makes it even more important that it be done in the right way,' said MacKay. 'The rules are there, the fine is big, but is it going to be enforced and how is it going to be enforced?' 'Consider supporting a local business' As a small business owner working in the tourism sector, Arseneau says these types of restrictions can be anxiety inducing for their guests. 'It's just response to a lot of questions, having to have hard conversations when people who so connect campfires with camping now can't do that, many of whom are upset or would cancel their reservation based on that. So, we have been seeing an influx of cancellations, unfortunately,' she said. 'I think where the anxiety comes in as a business owner is just what is next? For now, official campgrounds are allowed to operate, but I also note that we're listed there, and next time we could be listed in a different way, so it is very concerning.' Arseneau believes the new restrictions were relatively clear, but adds they lacked some details. 'Businesses like us will filter through a lot of questions with our customers and lack of that, so we have a lot of questions,' she said. 'When it comes to what people are allowed to do, that is to go camping, just at campgrounds, so please consider supporting a local business.' Cancellations Capes 100, a running race that was scheduled to take place this weekend in Mabou, N.S., has been cancelled due to the restrictions. '(It was a) stressed out and nauseous feeling, and then once they gave the word it was just heartbreaking,' said Jodi Isenor, race director for Capes 100. The event had been sold out for nearly a year and, according to Isenor, the cancellation means 250 runners and 50 volunteers will now have to change their weekend plans. 'With accommodations and food and everything else, you could safely say there is 350 to 400 extra people in Mabou and Inverness area for this event,' he said. 'So, it's not just sad for us, it's sad for those communities as well.' On the other side of Cape Breton Island, in Port Morien, N.S., the annual Morien Memories summer festival comes to an end this weekend. While other scheduled activities are still a go, organizers say there will no longer be closing fireworks. 'We had a designated expert who was going to set off the fireworks, but after he consulted with the Department of Natural Resources and (Cape Breton Regional Municipality) Fire it was a no-brainer that it had to be cancelled,' said Beverley Spencer, Morien Memories committee chair. CTV Atlantic also spoke with one of the organizers of Wi'kipaltimk 2025 – a three-day Mi'kmaq cultural event and powwow scheduled for Aug. 8-10. They said the decision was made on Wednesday to cancel the event's fireworks finale on Sunday evening, though most other activities on the calendar are expected to go ahead as scheduled. With files from CTV Atlantic's Callum Smith and Ryan MacDonald. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
National Post
23 minutes ago
- National Post
Canadians can no longer choose 'X' for gender when applying for Nexus card
OTTAWA — Canadians renewing or applying for Nexus travel cards can no longer choose an X gender marker, following an executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump that said the American government will only recognize male or female. Article content The change took effect in February 2025. Article content Article content New applicants and people renewing their membership can apply using a Canadian passport with the 'X' gender identifier but will have to select 'male' or 'female' for their Nexus membership, said Luke Reimer, spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency. Article content Current Nexus cards identifying members by a gender other than 'male' or 'female' will remain valid until they expire, the spokesperson said. Article content Article content Canadians first got the option to pick an 'X' gender marker on their Nexus passes in 2022. Between implementation in 2022 and March 2025, about 550 Nexus applications were submitted with 'X' as the gender identifier. The CBSA spokesperson said that while Canada and the U.S. share management of the Nexus program, the application process is housed on a U.S system operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Article content The spokesperson said that while the Government of Canada recognizes the 'X' gender identifier, it can't guarantee entry or transit through other countries. Article content 'Not all countries have the same values and legal system that we have in Canada,' Reimer said in a statement. 'As a result, it is important for travellers to be informed about the legal framework and social customs governing sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics in the destination country.' Article content Article content Reimer said that the CBSA itself recognizes that individuals may self-identify with a gender identity other than male or female. Article content Article content 'What we are seeing right now is a policy that is at odds with our own policy and inconsistent and incompatible with it,' Sarah Mikhail, an associate lawyer at Smith Immigration Law, said, adding that it's too early to tell how Canada's passport policy could be affected. Article content She said trans and non-binary travellers may still face difficulties at the border if their passports don't match the gender selected on their Nexus card. Article content 'I think the border can be a really stressful place and a really sometimes unknown environment for a lot of people. And going in knowing that there's this discrepancy and this is something that could possibly elicit questioning from an officer, and have to be looked at further, I think would be an incredibly, not just stressful experience, but invasive,' she said. Article content The Government of Canada's travel health and safety web page says that people who have a Canadian passport with an 'X' gender marker might face entry restrictions in countries that don't recognize their gender. Article content It says that people may be asked to provide binary sex information when travelling — even if their Canadian passport indicates an 'X' gender marker. Article content
