In light of recent fatal police shootings in Manitoba, CBC reports that many experts are calling for improvements to Canadian police education. University of Alberta Criminology Professor Temitope Oriola highlighted concerns with Canadian police training, such as the short training period, emphasis on marksmanship, and varied use of force standards. A previous inquiry report advised that the RCMP’s model of training is inadequate and pointed to Nordic countries’ police systems as a potential models for Canada. Oriola echoed this suggestion, noting that Finland and Norway require police to complete a dedicated three-year bachelor’s degree—more education than is required by the RCMP or Winnipeg Police Service, for example. CBC reports that the educational and ongoing training required in Norway help Norwegian police officers to feel prepared and safe, while limiting the use of force.
