Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Royal Canadian Mounted Police constabulary organized (1873) as the Northwest Mounted Police to bring law and order to the Canadian west. In 1920 the name was changed to the present title. The corps, which gained a romantic reputation for daring exploits and persistence in trailing criminals, originally numbered 300 men; they came to be known as Red Coats, Riders of the Plains, and, most popularly, Mounties. The force later absorbed the provincial police forces of all the territories and provinces except Ontario and Quebec and enforces all federal and provincial laws except in those provinces. It also takes part in selected international peacekeeping activites. The force numbers about 16,000.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) A police force which provides provincial policing in all provinces except Ontario and Quebec, as well as conducting investigations into organized crime, narcotics offences, fraud, and other large-scale criminal activity nationwide. It was founded in 1873 as the North-West Mounted Police, after the model of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Although initially established as a temporary force, it soon became an indispensable guarantor of law and order in the west, where it established good relations with most native peoples. In addition, it played a vital role in the enforcement of Canada's fragile border with the USA. In 1920, it was transformed from a western regional force to a national police force, and acquired its present name. Precise control over RCMP activities has been a constant source of friction between the federal government and the individual provinces. Nonetheless, it remained a potent symbol of Canadian unity due to its importance as a national institution, its reputation for quality, and consistently excellent public relations.