Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, has been tasked, as part of his mandate letter, to "conduct an assessment of contract policing in consultation with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners and stakeholders." UBCM will hold virtual meetings during the afternoon of March 30 for its members to provide input into this assessment.
As part of this assessment, Public Safety Canada (PSC) will be holding engagement sessions with contract partners and local government associations, examining the current and future state of RCMP policing. PSC has requested that feedback focus on the following themes:
- Governance and accountability – Examining the framework for local and national decision-making, management, administration and accountability. PSC is seeking to understand what works well, and what could be changed to improve governance, oversight, transparency and accountability.
- Program sustainability and cost – Reviewing the current funding and resourcing model, and potential changes to address the affordability and sustainability of contract policing. Seeking to understand the considerations and challenges pertaining to program costs, resourcing, affordability and sustainability. PSC is also accepting recommendations regarding improvements to the sustainability of contract policing, including the cost-sharing framework (e.g. how and which costs should be shared between contract partners and the federal government).
- Service delivery – Exploring how the RCMP is adapting to administer and deliver policing services in a changing environment, as well as the overall management of the Police Service Agreements (PSAs). Information is being sought regarding what is working well, whether other policing models should be considered, how the current program can evolve to meet contract partners’ needs, and any related recommendations.
- Long-term vision (2032 and beyond) – Examining the long-term policing needs of contract partners. PSC is seeking to understand what contract partners believe is the vision for policing in their jurisdictions, factors that could impact decisions regarding policing needs and desired policing models, and the role of the federal government in supporting alternative policing models (including policing transitions).
As part of this assessment, UBCM will be administering the following meetings to solicit local government input:
- Local governments under 5,000 in population and regional districts – March 30, 1:00-2:00 pm
- Local governments between 5,000 – 15,000 in population – March 30, 2:00-3:00 pm
- Local governments over 15,000 in population – March 30, 3:00-4:00 pm
The intent of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for B.C. local governments to deliver input related to the four key themes. UBCM will also be accepting local government written feedback until April 7, 2023.
Written submissions and information gathered through these meetings will contribute towards UBCM’s discussions with Public Safety Canada and other contract partners. The federal government has indicated that its 2032 PSA negotiation mandate may be informed by feedback provided through this review.
These meetings are open to local government elected officials and staff members. To register or provide written feedback, please contact Bhar Sihota, UBCM Senior Policy Analyst.