The Institutional Safety Officers Regulation, amendment M.R. 3/2026 modifies Manitoba Regulation 92/2021 under the Police Services Act, C.C.S.M. c. P94.5, updating provisions related to the appointment, training, and duties of institutional safety officers. The amendment eliminates the previous definitions of “operating agreement” and “security guard licence” from section 1, improving the regulatory framework and removing outdated terminology.

Section 1 of the regulation introduces the concept of “prescribed institutions,” designating Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation as entities where institutional safety officers may be deployed. This addition formalizes the scope of institutions covered under the regulation and clarifies where officers’ responsibilities apply.

The eligibility criteria for appointment as an institutional safety officer are clarified and expanded under the amended subsection 2(1). Candidates must complete comprehensive training covering public safety and crime prevention, enforcement of provincial laws, arrests, searches, and seizures, use of force and officer safety, documentation and interview procedures, court preparation, and mental health awareness. This ensures that officers are equipped with both legal knowledge and practical skills to operate safely and effectively in their designated institutions. Subsection 2(2) is adjusted to reference the amended training requirements, ensuring consistency across the regulation.

The amendment also refines operational duties under section 3, specifying that institutional safety officers exercise their responsibilities “while the officer is on duty,” which provides greater clarity on the temporal scope of their authority. Section 6, which contained provisions that were either redundant or no longer applicable, is repealed. Changes to section 8 correct terminology, removing the word “INSTITUTIONAL” from subsection 8(1) and replacing “institutional officer” with “institutional safety officer” in subsection 8(2) of the English version, standardizing language throughout the regulation.

Regulation 3/2026 is aimed at improving the regulatory framework governing institutional safety officers in Manitoba by clearly defining the institutions covered, establishing detailed training requirements, and refining operational duties and terminology. By removing outdated definitions and redundant provisions, the amendment aims to improve clarity and ensure consistency with contemporary practices in public safety. In addition, it aims to align officer responsibilities with current standards in institutional security. The changes are a deliberate effort to professionalize institutional safety roles, improve officer preparedness, and promote effective law enforcement and safety practices within Manitoba Hydro, the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation, and potentially other prescribed institutions in the future.

Manitoba (3/2026) January 20, 2026
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