Codiac RCMP will hire five new police officers in 2023 but the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton is wondering if it will make much of a difference for policing the region.

CEO John Wishart noted how much the area has grown in recent years.

“In 2008, there were 145 RCMP officers funded for Greater Moncton. Today there are 147. So we’ve grown by two officers in 14 years when the population of Greater Moncton has increased by 20,000,” said Wishart.

“We’re not sure whether the five officers is going to make enough of a difference. You spread five officers over seven days, multiple shifts, it might mean one more officer per shift. Is that going to do the trick?”

Moncton City Council approved a $4.3 million increase to the Codiac Regional Policing Authority (CRPA) budget for 2023 which includes $2.95 million for higher RCMP contract costs and $1.35 million to add staff members.

CRPA chairperson Don Moore told council this fall that the current staffing level is inadequate and the authority plans to hire five new police officers and two new civilians.

Over the next three years, CRPA plans to add 25 staff members.