NDP MLA Tajinder Grewal visiting North Battleford on March 19. (Image Credit: Alyssa Rudolph/ battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Alyssa Rudolph

PUBLIC SAFETY

NDP calls for policing, social investment after fatal shooting of North Battleford taxi driver

Mar 19, 2026 | 2:28 PM

Following the fatal shooting of a North Battleford taxi driver earlier this month, the NDP is asking for further investment in policing to improve public safety.  

NDP MLA, Tajinder Grewal visited the community on Thursday morning to share his concerns.  

“We can do much better in terms of public safety. We should be tough on crime. At the same time, we should also be tough on the root cause of the crime,” he said.  

Grewal said these root causes stem from people living in poverty, homelessness, and struggles with mental health, and addiction issues. By helping these people, he believes public safety will improve.  

“Budget was announced yesterday, and there is a $43.5 billion deficit. Saskatchewan people, they’ll be paying $1.2 billion just to service this debt, and this is three times what we spent on our entire police service in Saskatchewan,” said Grewal. 

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He said that is why the NDP is calling for increased investment with more police services and focus on social difficulties 

“We can’t just control the symptoms if we are not toppling the root cause of the crime. Why people go to taking drugs? Why people are getting the bad ones? Why people are trying to kill other people?” 

But Battlefords Sask. Party MLA Jeremy Cockrill said the government has made necessary investments within the community.  

“Our government has made significant investments into municipal police departments, the RCMP, including right here in the Battlefords with investment in targeted teams to address repeat offenders and violent criminals, and the Saskatchewan Marshals Service,” he shared in a statement to battlefordsNOW. 

Cockrill said the NDP has voted against these additional investments year after year.  

“Despite their opposition, our government will continue to make investments that keep our communities safe,” he added. 

Provincial budget 

In the 2026-27 provincial budget, RCMP received an increase of $50 million, totalling $310 million to support operations in the province, including $26 million for First Nations policing. Additional funding will also go toward the Saskatchewan Marshal Service.  

Battlefords RCMP Inspector Ryan How said he is pleased to see the continued increasing support and commitment to public safety. 

“The root causes of crime used to be much more simple and the police had the ability to address those factors. Now, many people involved in criminal behaviour are suffering from complex needs and generally exposed to extremely potent illegal drugs and the police simply aren’t equipped to address the causes of criminality,” he said in a statement.  

How added that the increased focus on RCMP resourcing in conjunction with supports to addictions and mental health will allow the RCMP to be more responsive to the public’s needs. 

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Crown Cab, the employer of late Davinder Singh, publicly identified by the company, has begun raising funds for his family. To donate, click here. 

Donations made to Davinder Singh’s family. (Image Credit: gofundme)

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com