Exploring alternatives to RCMP

By Lachlan Labere - Salmon Arm Observer

Accountability and control. Coun. Alan Harrison says the city currently lacks both in its contract with the RCMP. In response he has asked that council and city staff explore the possibility of establishing a municipal police force instead. “I’m not sure of a cost saving but what I do know is the closer the budgeting process is to the source, the more control you have over it,” Harrison told the Observer. “I’m not saying we should make that jump, but I think we should explore it. “Because, for example, cities with a municipal police force, like the city of Nelson, they have direct control over their moneys that are spent on policing. Whereas here, as we just found out, we have no choice but to agree with the RCMP contract that’s nationwide. And if we don’t agree, we don’t get the policing that we want.” Harrison referred to a resolution put forward to council by city corporate services director Monica Dalziel. The resolution asks that a letter be sent to the federal Treasury Board, stating council supports in principal an incremental increase of $54.43 for the 19 RCMP members of the Salmon Arm detachment for the 2010/2011 budget.

“The Treasury Board will not allocate any increased funding for policing for the city through their budget for the process without a letter from us,” explained Dalziel. “If you do not adopt this resolution… the Treasury Board will send the same amount as last year and, if costs are higher, the city will be shorted.” The increase, said Dalziel, does not represent a raise, but the cost of providing policing services divided by the number of members. Dalziel noted that council once refused approval and, as a result, members of RCMP Division E paid city hall a visit “to educate” staff and council of the need. Coun. Kevin Flynn, of similar mind as Harrison, described this as a perfect example of the lack of accountability. “We don’t have any control over any of these budget numbers, we just get told here is what it is. In a lot of cases we don’t even understand where the numbers come from…,” said Flynn, agreeing the city needs to have a look at its options.

“A municipal force may cost more, but I think in this day and age when this is costing us close to 20-25 cents on every dollar that our taxpayers pay, we should be looking at whether we feel we’re getting the right accountability and control over that budget.” A municipal force is one option for policing services in a survey provided to the city from the Union of BC Municipalities regarding the RCMP’s contract renewal in 2012. Contract renewal and establishing a provincial police force are two others. Asked why he preferred a municipal force, Harrison said he has found that B.C. has a greater RCMP presence than any other province. “I think the RCMP do an excellent job here in Salmon Arm and in many other communities,” said Harrison. “But it’s expensive, and we don’t have any leverage in this contract in 2012 as far as finances go. One of the reasons I’d like to look at a municipal police force is we would have much more control over cost.” Council approved the request from Dalziel, and will look into holding a workshop to discuss the survey options.