MP Marilyn Gladu says Sarnia won't lose any federal policing services as a result of the closure of the nearly century-old RCMP office.
Gladu says the planned closure, that came to light Wednesday, was "horribly communicated" but further information she has received from the Public Safety Ministry and RCMP is encouraging.
The Sarnia-Lambton MP says over time, local RCMP services have been transferred to local police or the Canadian Border Services Agency.
"Remaining in Sarnia, there are four officers, one of whom has been on leave for some time," says Gladu. "So of the remaining three, the work that they're doing is investigating, part of the human smuggling, opioid drug investigations that are ongoing, but that's in participation with teams, the major part of which, are based out of Windsor."
Overall she says there will not be a huge impact, and the stability and security of the people of Sarnia-Lambton and the border will not be compromised.
"At this point in time, really there are no activities left for the RCMP to conduct here that they cannot support from other places," says Gladu. "For example, the [St. Clair River] float down is happening next month, and they will send RCMP from Niagara, London and Kitchener, and they already have a plan for that."
The Sarnia RCMP detachment, located in the federal building at Davis St. and Christina St., dates back to 1920. -With files from Dave Dentinger