B.C., Ottawa agree on new RCMP contract

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An agreement between the provincial government and Ottawa on a new RCMP contract will result in Kamloops continuing to pay 90 per cent of policing costs.

In the new contract — a 20-year term with five-year reviews and a two-years’ notice opt-out clause — the basic cost-sharing formulas remain the same.

B.C. municipalities with populations between 5,000 and 15,000 will continue to pay 70 per cent of their contract costs, while communities like Kamloops, with populations of more than 15,000, will continue to pay 90 per cent.

The new contract also improves the ability for municipalities to monitor and plan for costs, according to B.C. Attorney-General Shirley Bond.

In addition to clearly defined roles in contract-management discussions, Bond said, local governments will see increased financial reporting from the RCMP that will empower them to plan for costs in co-ordination with municipal planning cycles and also assess value for money.

In addition to the enhanced contract management committee, which will now include an associate local government member, the province has also established a new B.C. local government RCMP contract-management committee.

This new committee of Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ representatives will help local governments throughout B.C. influence cost and service decisions.

“B.C. set out to gain new management tools based on extensive consultation and input from our municipal partners,” Bond said.

“This contract gives us new management and oversight ability that will allow us to contain costs and take a more direct role in determining what police services will look like in our province.”

Added Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, commanding officer of the B.C. RCMP:

“The RCMP is B.C.’s police force and we remain committed to being the accountable, transparent and trusted organization British Columbians deserve.”