RCMP officials say they have spoken to the Mountie who helped out a Saskatchewan candidate in the federal election, reminding the officer about the force's policies with regard to political campaigns.

RCMP managers have identified the officer who delivered campaign signs to the La Ronge office of Conservative candidate Rob Clarke on Monday, said Sgt. Carole Raymond, spokesperson for the RCMP in the province, in a news release Wednesday.

Clarke was an RCMP officer for 18 years prior to entering politics. He was first elected to the House of Commons in a byelection in March 2008.

'As an organization serving all Canadians, we are and will remain neutral.'—Sgt. Carole Raymond, spokesperson for Saskatchewan RCMP

Raymond said the Mountie was off-duty at the time but was using an RCMP truck and wearing his uniform.

The officer had stopped in La Ronge, a community in the federal riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, on his way back to his post in Southend, Sask., 200 kilometres northeast of La Ronge. The officer had been on RCMP business in Saskatoon.

Internal issue

Raymond said the actions were regrettable and that discipline had been meted out in the form of "providing operational guidance to this member."

"This is an internal issue," Raymond said in the media advisory, "and the name of the member will not be released."

Saskatchewan RCMP officers also received a memo from their provincial superintendent, reminding them of policies relating to election campaigns. The incident took place eight days before the Oct. 14 election.

"As an organization and citizens we support the democratic electoral process and the right of each person, including our members, to chose the candidate they best feel reflects their vision for the country," Raymond said. "However, as an organization serving all Canadians, we are and will remain neutral."

Raymond said the RCMP regrets that the Mountie's actions may have caused the community of La Ronge to believe the agency favours any specific party or individual.

An apology was also made to Bill Layman, the La Ronge resident who raised concerns about what he saw on Monday.

Layman told CBC News that when he tried to talk to the Mountie about the matter, the officer brushed him off with a dismissive gesture.

"We have apologize[d] to Mr. Bill Layman for the actions of this RCMP member and thanked him for bring[ing] this matter to our attention," the release said.