Report to Vernon council says provincial policing structure and resourcing is inadequate

Photo: Jon Manchester

Vernon councillors will consider adding their voice to calls for change in the RCMP's contract with B.C. municipalities.

The Union of B.C. Municipalities is soliciting local government feedback to bring local interests to the federal government.

A five-year review of the provincial police services agreement allows for contract partners to bring forward issues for consideration. For a matter to be included in the review, it must be raised by and involve more than one province or territory, however.

A report to Vernon council recommends three matters be forwarded to the UBCM.

The first states provincial policing structure and resourcing is inadequate.

"This matter has been raised numerous times over the past number of years, including the 2018 UBCM convention. The issue has not been addressed. This matter needs to be resolved as under resourcing places the public and officers at risk.

"There is no apparent standard of rural policing and service levels established by the province of B.C. and no apparent comparable standard at the national level. Rural provincial units are under resourced, often left with vacancies, frequently supplemented by adjacent or contiguous municipal detachments, which draws down public safety resources normally committed to the urban communities."

Also, RCMP contract partners have received no substantive direction on the potential outcome of current collective agreement negotiations, the report notes.

"There have been no preparatory briefings that would assist local municipalities to address an outcome to which they have virtually no input. Should costs increase significantly, local municipal contract partners may need three to five years to phase in local tax rate increases, or to consider and introduce service alternatives. Further, the Province of B.C. should be fast-tracking roundtables on the future of policing within British Columbia."

The report also notes that serious crime is not confined to the Lower Mainland.

"Smaller, more remote detachments and rural provincial units need the consistent, predictable support of adequately resourced and responsive integrated teams. These teams require provincial guidance and a provincewide strategic plan for implementation, resourcing and fair consistent budget support."