Last week, representatives from UBCM and more than 70 local governments met with Public Safety Canada to discuss the RCMP Collective Agreement and the issue of retroactive costs. Local governments outlined impacts and concerns while reiterating a request that the federal government absorb all retroactive costs.
Some of the most cited concerns include but are not limited to:
- The lack of communication and information sharing by Public Safety Canada related to the RCMP Collective Agreement and impacts on contract partners;
- The federal government’s failure to effectively engage local governments or consider local government concerns during the negotiation process;
- The inability for local governments to pay/absorb large retroactive costs, especially given that policing is already the largest budget item for many; and,
- Federal guidance, delivered in 2018, fell well short of the final settlement.
Local governments also noted impacts they are facing as a result of these potential costs, from property tax increases to difficulty in hiring necessary law enforcement personnel. There was also concern that the next round of collective bargaining, set to begin later this year, will not address the issues consistently raised by contract partners.
While Public Safety Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister was unable to commit to any changes, he did advise that a summary of discussions will be conveyed to the Minister of Public Safety for consideration. Given the time it will take to consider options and make a decision, the federal government has agreed to delay sending invoices for the next 1-2 months. The ADM, noting that the federal government received over 160 letters from local governments, also acknowledged the lack of communication with local governments during the collective bargaining process.
UBCM continues to call on the federal government to absorb all retroactive costs associated with the RCMP Collective Agreement.