The Conservative government is looking at paying an allowance to RCMP cadets training at the Depot Division in Regina, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said Thursday.

"There's a lot of competition right now for good young men and women in police forces," he told the Commons committee on national security and public safety in Ottawa. "And the RCMP is at a disadvantage if they can't pay their cadets while they are in training."

In a recent survey, RCMP cadets said they need about $4,600 over the 24-week training period to cover incidental costs.
(File/CBC)

Day said he recently spoke about the issue with Giuliano Zaccardelli, who resigned as RCMP commissioner Wednesday over his testimony to the committee about the Maher Arar affair.

Day blamed the Liberals for taking away recruits' allowances and said the Conservative government wants to reverse that decision.

"I don't think that's right and we're looking at that," he said.

Recruits undergo a 24-week session at the Training Academy in Regina.

The RCMP covers their travel expenses as well as uniforms, room and board, and the cost of all courses. However, it does not pay them a salary.

Cadets also pay for all other incidental costs,including the graduation fund, school supplies and items such as shoe polish. The RCMP says that according to a recent survey, cadets require about $4,600 over the 24-week training period to cover incidental costs.

Police services across Canada have different approaches to paying trainees.

The Toronto Police Service, for example, pays cadets a salary but requires them to pay for training courses, spokesman Const. Victor Kwong told CBC News.