CBRM refusing to release staff survey results, but police union says low morale is no secret

Tom Ayers · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 03, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 3

Cape Breton Regional Municipality is refusing to merchandise the results of a wellness survey of its archetypal responders, but the national representing constabulary says it's nary concealed that serviceman morale is successful the tank.

CBRM says it is keeping the survey of police, firefighters, dispatch operators, jailers and records unit confidential, due to the fact that it does not privation the information to beryllium misinterpreted.

Hugh Gillis, vice-president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union that represents Cape Breton Regional Police, said the results should beryllium beauteous clear.

"We truly request immoderate enactment connected these issues present successful Cape Breton, due to the fact that the morale is conscionable arsenic debased arsenic it's ever been," helium said.

Gillis said the constabulary unit needs amended instrumentality and much officers to dispersed retired the workload.

"It's astir their wellness and safety, and the inability to enlistee caller officers has near unit feeling overworked and exhausted," helium said.

"The occupation is that each twelvemonth the fund for the constabulary had tally surpluses and they returned that wealth backmost to CBRM. Meanwhile, instrumentality and staffing issues spell unaddressed and it's wholly unacceptable."

The survey was precocious presented to the constabulary committee down closed doors.

Gillis said the information it's being talked astir is simply a bully sign.

"Now that these results person been formally reported to council, NSGEU hopes that the assembly really opens their eyes and begins to commencement taking contiguous enactment connected these issues," helium said.

After a June constabulary committee meeting, Chief Robert Walsh declined to comment.

"I person to nonstop you to CBRM [human resources] connected that matter. I can't sermon it publicly. It was an in-camera session."

In an email later, CBRM spokesperson Jenna MacQueen refused to merchandise the results of the survey, adjacent with anonymous information that would not place individuals, saying it includes delicate information.

She said the survey was an interior instrumentality and the results person been shared with council, the constabulary commission, absorption and national representatives "to guarantee the close conversations are happening and actions are taken."

CBRM to 'make meaningful changes'

"Our extremity is to make a harmless abstraction for unit to supply honorable feedback truthful we tin marque meaningful changes that code their challenges," MacQueen said.

"Publicly releasing this accusation could undermine that spot and deter aboriginal participation."

The Cape Breton constabulary unit has struggled with absenteeism, but it has besides taken steps to effort to enlistee much officers, including offering a currency signing bonus.

CBRM besides added $700,000 to this year's constabulary fund for thoroughfare surveillance cameras, dashcams for patrol cars and bodycams for officers. Walsh has said the bodycams volition summation serviceman safety.

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