On April 25, 2023, the Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee met with provincial government and RCMP representatives to discuss issues related to the Municipal Police Unit Agreement and policing more broadly in British Columbia. Key issues discussed at the meeting are summarized in this article.
LGCMC Membership
The UBCM Executive recently appointed the following individuals to fill vacancies on the LGCMC:
- Councillor Cori Ramsay, City of Prince George (local government over 15,000 in population, outside the Lower Mainland RCMP District).
- Cecilia Achiam, City of Richmond (local government over 15,000 in population, from the Lower Mainland RCMP District).
- Director Jerrilyn Kirk, Fraser-Fort George Regional District (regional district).
- Councillor Sam Raven, Town of Smithers (local government 5,000 – 15,000 in population).
- Mayor David Wilks, District of Sparwood (local government under 5,000 in population).
- Trevor Seibel, District of Coldstream (local government 5,000 – 15,000 in population).
Collective Agreement and Retroactive Pay
On March 28, 2023, Public Safety Canada advised the national Contract Management Committee that Canada will not absorb any portion of the retroactive amounts associated with the first RCMP Collective Agreement. The RCMP sent invoices for the full retroactive amounts on March 31, 2023, to contract partners, including local governments with over 5,000 in population. Canada has provided contract partners the option to pay the invoice over a 2-year payment plan.
For residents of local governments under 5,000 in population, their share of retroactive costs will be addressed through the provincial Police Tax.
A recent update on negotiations related to the second RCMP Collective Agreement was provided in the June 28th edition of The Compass. LGCMC representatives continue to express concerns about the lack of local government input into the collective bargaining process.
Assessment of RCMP Contract Policing
The federal Minister of Public Safety has a mandate to conduct an assessment of contract policing. This assessment is being conducted in consultation with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners, and stakeholders. There are 4 key areas of focus: governance and accountability, program sustainability and cost, service delivery and, long-term vision of policing.
A summary of the LGCMC’s June 23rd engagement session can be found here.
Recruitment and Vacancies
Wage parity with other police agencies resulting from the first Collective Agreement has had a positive impact on recruitment and retention, along with a reduction in retirements. Concerning recruitment, Depot Division is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, however, the number of graduates is increasing.
The RCMP has implemented several new strategies to help somewhat mitigate vacancy issues. Cadets from B.C. can sign Pre-Posting Agreements and choose to return to the province after completing their training (as operationally feasible). The Experienced Officer Program has also helped with lateral transfers of experienced police officers to the RCMP, including ex-RCMP officers.
The Committee noted that both the Province and local governments are seeking additional policing resources, leading to competition for a limited pool of officers.
Body Worn Camera Update
The federal government has now awarded the initial contract, with the field test (i.e., pilot project) expected to begin in May 2023 in Alberta, Nunavut and Nova Scotia. If the field test is successful, body-worn cameras (BWC) are expected to be implemented in B.C. beginning in early 2024. Full implementation across B.C. could take 12-18 months to complete.
The RCMP has estimated the cost of body-worn cameras to be between $2,000 - $3,000 per user, with a potential variation in costs for staff who require access to footage. The federal government will not be contributing funding (beyond the standard cost-sharing arrangement) after April 2024. Full implementation in B.C. may not occur until after that date, meaning there is a chance that B.C. local governments will not receive any funding for this initiative.
UBCM, LGCMC members and other contract partners continue to call on the federal government to deliver funding to contract partners.
Surrey Policing Transition
Information provided at the April 25, 2023, LGCMC meeting is now outdated, as this meeting occurred before the Province delivered its recommendation on policing in the City of Surrey. More recent information regarding this issue will be provided as part of a future LGCMC update in The Compass.