FAQ
Selection process
Interviews are scheduled every 5 to 6 weeks, subject to the volume of applicants. Candidates will be informed in advance regarding the details.
Please note that while we recruit from various locations, the interviews are exclusively held within the greater Montreal area.
General questions
Yes, we offer a rotational schedule as part of a pilot project. The project was initially launched in April 2022 in Kangiqsualujjuaq and Akulivik. Due to its success, it was expanded in March 2023 to include Kangirsuk and Kuujjuaraapik, and it will be extended further to Kuujjuaq and Puvirnituq during the summer of 2024.
This schedule is offered to employees based on seniority. New employees are initially required to work on the regular schedule. However, individuals with at least two years of policing experience can join the rotational schedule immediately, although they will not be assigned a specific community.
We aim to transition all employees to the rotational schedule by the end of 2024. This initiative is part of our commitment to enhancing work-life balance for our staff and ensuring continued, effective service across the communities we serve.
Rotational schedule pilot project
Police officers working on the rotational schedule work 11 hours daily for 14 consecutive days, followed by 14 days off. The NPS pays for round-trip airfare between Nunavik and Montreal at the beginning and end of each rotation period.
Rotational schedule positions are offered to employees by seniority.
Regular schedule
Police officers working the regular schedule are required to work 40 regular hours per week. The shifts will be 8 or 10 hours, depending on the community where you will be assigned. You will also be required to remain on call outside of your regular hours of work. On-call employees are paid 25% of their regular hourly rate. Employees called back to work are paid 3 hours at time and a half (x1.5).
Regular Schedule
With accumulated overtime, members are entitled to use 500 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave and three return flights from Nunavik to Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa or Iqaluit (depending on your point of origin) per year. You will have the opportunity to choose when to use these flights. On average, police officers work for three months, followed by one month off.
Rotational schedule pilot project
Members are entitled to four weeks of paid leave per year (equivalent to two full rotations).
You will be assigned to a community based on the needs of the organization. Needs are constantly evolving, and we can only inform you of your assignment point a few days before you are hired. Candidates must be willing to work in any Nunavik community to be considered for a constable position with the Nunavik Police Service.
The Nunavik Police Service provides housing for all its police officers. You will have a private room in one of these accommodations, shared with other police officers. You will need to bring your pillows, sheets and a comforter. Furniture, appliances and kitchen utensils are provided. You will not pay rent.
Air transportation is the only way to get to Nunavik. You will be travelling on Air Inuit or Canadian North. Visit their website to find out about hand and checked baggage restrictions.
As a new employee, you will be allowed to bring 60 kg of baggage from the South to Nunavik. During your probation period, the NPS will pay to send 100 kg of your personal belongings from Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Moncton or Iqaluit (whichever is closest) to your assigned community. Upon completion of your probation period, you will be allowed to send an additional 325 kg of your personal belongings (total of 455 kg).
Pets are not allowed in shared houses.
The Nunavik Police Service does not hire contract employees. Those hired are temporary or permanent, and the working conditions are defined in the collective agreement.
The first language of the Inuit is Inuktitut. Most Inuit speak English as a second language. Police event reports reports are written in English. You do not have to speak French.
Yes, there is at least one grocery store in each community where you can buy all essential items. Nutrition North Canada subsidizes many items, which helps in reducing the cost of food. Additionally, you will receive a cost-of-living allowance. For more detailed information on the allowance, please visit our Salary and Benefits page.
For a more comprehensive understanding, you might find this video helpful (French only): L’épicerie | Le Grand Nord québécois, un désert alimentaire. Watch it on YouTube here: Watch Video.
Most communities have access to a gym.
Except for Kuujjuaq and Kuujjuaraapik, there is currently no cellular service in Nunavik. All NPS police stations are equipped with wifi access for police officers. During your initial training period in Kuujjuaq, you will have access to wifi in your accommodation.
When you arrive in your assigned community, you can pay to receive internet service in your accommodation. Two options are available: Tamaani and StarLink.
Shared accommodations are equipped with a telephone line where you can make long-distance calls using a calling card.
To gain a deeper understanding of Nunavik, its culture, geography, and community life, we recommend the following selection of videos. Each offers unique insights and perspectives:
- “Living situation in Nunavik” (ULaval) – Watch Video.
- “L’épicerie | Le Grand Nord québécois, un désert alimentaire” (Radio-Canada) – Watch Video.
- “Enquête | Justice in Nunavik – A Change in Wind Direction” (Radio-Canada) – Watch Video.
- “Patrice Roy à Kuujjuaq avec Elisapie et Tunu Napartuk” (Radio-Canada) – Watch Video.
- “Le coût véritable de la contrebande d’alcool au Nunavik” (QUB Radio) – Watch Video.
- “Contrebande d’alcool: de Montréal au Nunavik” (QUB Radio) – Watch Video.
- “So That You Can Stand” (Ole Gjerstad) – Watch Video
RCMP Depot Training Program
Yes, you can apply if you live outside of Quebec.
Yes, during your training, you will be hired as a student employee and you will receive a weekly salary of $673.75.
No, the NPS will pay for your training. However, you must commit to stay employed with the NPS for five years. If you decide to leave before the end of your agreement, you will be required to repay the costs incurred by the NPS, prorated to the number of months remaining in the agreement.
The training is in English.
You will be inserted in a troop with RCMP cadets. It is the same training that RCMP members receive.