All conservation officers in Saskatchewan will be equipped with carbine rifles beginning on March 1. The decision to equip the officers with the firearm came about after a recommendation from the Provincial Court of New Brunswick in the wake of the fatal shooting of three RCMP officers in 2014.

“We have 30 conservation officers that are trained to the Saskatchewan Police College standard as instructors, and they will be delivering the training to the remaining officers in our agency,” explained Daryl Minter, an inspector with the Conservation Officer Service with the Ministry of Environment. “It is a 40-hour course that tests safety, handling skills, familiarization of firearms and proficiency.”

Minter added many conservation officers work in remote areas where wildlife can be a factor, or where it could take some time for backup to arrive if an officer should encounter a dangerous individual.