Province introduces bill that would empower city to put peace officers on Winnipeg Transit buses

The Manitoba government is paving the way for municipalities to have new peace officers, including ones to monitor Winnipeg Transit buses.

A bill presented in the legislature Tuesday would expand the scope and authority of community safety officers and let municipalities decide where to use them.

The move would help Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham fulfil a plan he announced earlier this month to put 24 officers on the transit system to reduce violence.

Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen says other municipalities could use the safety officers for things like enforcement of the Highway Traffic Act.

Gillingham has saidthe presence of Winnipeg Transit security personnel, who would not be armed with guns,would free up police for other duties.

Goertzen says unlike cadets, who are used in Winnipeg as an auxiliary civilian force, the new peace officers would have the right to detain people.