WHEREAS Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachments serving rural communities in British Columbia have limited resources due to small population densities in their service area; AND WHEREAS many small rural recreational areas experience huge increases in population densities during peak seasonal periods; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia provide greater financial, equipment and personnel resources to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to assist with increased seasonal demands in rural recreational areas.
Ministry of Public Safety Solicitor General The Province recognizes that seasonal influxes of visitors can put an added strain on policing resources within rural communities. Police Services Division and the RCMP are working together on an in-depth study into the current allocation of rural police resources. This will help us determine the scope of the problem and generate some options for solutions. The RCMP Reserve Program is intended to alleviate temporary staffing shortages caused by leaves and to supplement seasonal policing gaps. The program in its initial inception was not operating to its full potential due to limitations in its design and challenges with its implementation. As a result of an evaluation in May 2008, many of the constraints on the program have been lifted. The Province believes that the program can be adapted as a successful strategy to meet some of the short and long term human resource needs.