In Saskatchewan, Security Guards and Private Investigators are presently regulated by provincial legislation, called The Private Investigators and Security Guards Act, 1997. This act governs all aspects of mandatory security guard training and equipment requirements as well as the issuing, renewal and cancellation of security guard licenses. No person may act as a private investigator or security guard in Saskatchewan without a license.

Saskatchewan’s Security Guards Act

The Act Itself governs the following aspects of security guards:

• The Act applies to private investigators and security guards and to businesses that provide private investigators, security guards, and armoured vehicle services.
• No person may act as a private investigator or security guard without a license. No business may provide investigator, security guard, or armoured vehicle services for hire without a license under the Act.
• The Act requires a business to apply for a license on behalf of the individual guard or private investigator. The license remains valid only for as long as the individual is employed by that company and must be returned to the Registrar upon termination.
• The Minister of Justice appoints the Registrar and any Deputy Registrars.

Restrictions Under the Act

The Act also introduces restrictions, with the most important ones being that security guards cannot:

• hold themselves out as police officers or connected to a police service
• refer to government licensing or bonding in any advertisement
• use a name other than the one under which they are licensed
• use the term “detective” in describing themselves
• allow other persons to use their license.

This legislation replaced the original The Private Investigators and Security Guards Act which was introduced in 1978 as a replacement for The Private Detectives Act which governed only private investigators. The changes were viewed as necessary to ensure that both the public and security guards were adequately protected in performing security functions.