Policing costs loom large for cities as RCMP contract wanes

Jeff Nagel - BC Local News Published: September 29, 2010 4:00 PM
Cities alarmed about rising RCMP costs are pressing Ottawa to take on more of the burden and rein in spending by the Mounties.  Policing devours close to half the total budget of many municipalities. Cities larger than 15,000 residents pay 90 per cent of RCMP costs and their mayors want that cut to 70 per cent – a proposal the federal government rejected this summer. Ottawa also refused to move to a 50-50 split in costs for most smaller communities, which now pay 70 per cent.  Civic leaders now plan to press federal cabinet ministers and B.C. Conservative MPs to rework the formula and provide more RCMP accountability. "Every mayor and council that has RCMP are concerned about the costs," City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto said at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Whistler.

The push for cost control comes amid negotiations to renew B.C.'s contract with the RCMP – which expires in March of 2012 – and growing debate over whether to instead shift to a provincial police force.  Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender, a civic observer in the talks, said some progress has been made.  The federal government has agreed to cover 30 per cent of the cost of integrated regional policing teams and cadet training, up from 10 per cent.  The province has rejected federal attempts to download even more costs on cities, he said, but added mayors remain worried. RCMP officers get a 1.5 per cent pay raise next year but the costs of each officer are to grow by a further $4,700 due to higher pension costs.  Rifles are also being added to each patrol car at a cost of at least $1,000 each in response to the 2006 shooting of two RCMP officers in Saskatchewan.  Detachments also must provide rifle-resistant body armour for officers and install more video cameras to monitor prisoners in areas beyond cells. "The costs are going up whether it's salaries or new equipment needed," said RCMP Pacific Region Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass, who met with a number of mayors at UBCM Tuesday. Bass said the issue isn't limited to the RCMP, adding cities with municipal forces are also struggling with rising costs.

A UBCM survey found nearly two-thirds of municipalities consider RCMP policing costs to be unaffordable and limiting the delivery of other civic services.  "It's reaching a tipping point," Salmon Arm Coun. Kevin Flynn said, adding cities like his may be forced to cut the number of officers. "I understand that you are concerned," Attorney-General Mike de Jong responded. "So are we." De Jong said he's canvassed RCMP-policed cities and found almost no appetite to actually abandon the Mounties. Critical regional policing functions are performed by the integrated investigation teams that draw officers from multiple RCMP detachments or civic forces – a system some consider a form of regional policing. But the case for deeper reform gained momentum this month when former Solicitor General Kash Heed called integrated teams a "band-aid solution" and said B.C. should consider creating a new force.

Rob Gordon, director of SFU's School of Criminology, supports a provincial police force replacing the RCMP for all but federal policing matters and predicts costs would come down. But he said the provincial government is "under siege" and the new missing women inquiry – which could weigh in on the merits of regionalization – means there's no chance now to form a provincial force and terminate the RCMP in 2012.  Gordon said it would be a mistake, however, to roll over the 20-year RCMP contract without including an escape hatch giving B.C. freedom to act later.  "It would be grossly irresponsible at this point to go ahead and sign without some sort of opt out."  He also said UBCM cities may not be getting the best advice because their lead negotiator is Murray Dinwoodie, manager of the City of Surrey, where a new $1-billion RCMP E Division headquarters is under construction. "That doesn't necessarily allow for clear thinking about the options," Gordon said.  Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts rejected Gordon's claim Surrey is in a conflict of interest.  "I don't think that plays a role at all," she said. "I'm not supportive of paying more money because E Division is coming."

Cities that want out of the RCMP to form their own municipal force or contract with a neighbouring one can do that on two years' notice, Fassbender noted.  He said an analysis of the working group suggests a regional force or provincial force would not be cheaper than the RCMP.  "It would actually cost us more," he said.  Complicating the talks is the fact Ottawa so far refuses to negotiate a B.C.-specific RCMP contract, even though nearly half of officers nation-wide work here and Surrey is Canada's largest detachment.  That leaves B.C. trying to coordinate requested changes with other provinces and territories.