The Saskatchewan Party government has begun establishing a new provincial police service, but the minister in charge says it won’t have an oversight body until boots are on the ground.

Christine Tell, minister of corrections, policing and public safety, now has authority to form the new Saskatchewan Marshals Service, said a recent order-in-council. The order states the province’s deputy minister will act in place of a board to oversee operations.

Tell said the province is to create a board for the marshals once it’s operational in 2026.

“What that looks like is still under development,” Tell said in an interview. “But in the interim, the deputy minister is the interim board as we get this thing developed.”

The province announced last fall it would create the marshals service to help enhance public safety, particularly in high-crime areas.