UBCM is currently engaged on a variety of issues that impact RCMP policing and municipal police agencies in B.C.
Current Issues
View recent articles published in The Compass about policing.
The Police Act provides the framework for the delivery of police services in B.C., including responsibilities assigned to the Province and local governments. In 2020, the Province announced its intention to review this legislation, subsequently creating the all-party Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act (SCRPA). The SCRPA was mandated to research and make recommendations regarding the modernization and sustainability of policing; the role of the police with respect to complex social issues; the scope of racism within BC’s police agencies; and any measures necessary to ensure legislation is consistent with UNDRIP. The SCRPA final report was released in April 2022, and includes 11 recommendations to modernize policing and public safety in B.C. UBCM provided input through a 2021 submission that included 17 recommendations addressing support for support for law enforcement; public trust and accountability; responsibility and resourcing for services; efficiency and effectiveness; coordination and communication; and, ongoing engagement.
Following the release of the SCRPA final report, the Province developed a three phase review process. The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General also established the Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable (LGPMR), which is a mechanism for local governments to provide input throughout the Police Act and public safety review. It is also a forum for local government priorities and concerns to be raised as part of broader work to research policing issues, explore options and advise on courses of action. The LGPMR is co-chaired by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) and UBCM, and includes 15 local government members.
Earlier this year, as part of phase one of this process, the Province introduced the Police Amendment Act. The Province is currently engaging the Roundtable as part of the next phase of this process.
Articles
Appointments Open for Policing Modernization Roundtable (May 2024)
Province Introduces Police Act Amendments (Apr. 2024)
Appointments to Policing Modernization Roundtable (Mar. 2023)
UBCM Submission on Public Safety Reform (Sept. 2022)
Legislative Committee Delivers Policing Recommendations (May 2022)
Appointments to Policing Modernization Roundtable (Nov. 2021)
Police Act Special Committee Seeks Input (Mar. 2021)
UBCM Police Act Submission (Feb. 2021)Documents
Preliminary Local Government Input into Public Safety Modernization (Aug. 2022)
Effectively Examining BC's Police Act (UBCM Submission) (Jan. 2021)
UBCM Presentation to SCRPA (Jan. 2021)
Correspondence
UBCM to SCRPA re Follow-Up Questions (Mar. 2021)
Minister Mike Farnworth to UBCM re Police Act Review (June 2020)
UBCM to Minister Mike Farnworth re Police Act Review (June 2020)
In April 2024, an independent arbitrator awarded RCMP Members below the rank of Inspector and Reservists a 4% salary increase per year for two years, as well as a one-time allowance of $2,500 related to the performance of regular duties. This decision is the result of a binding arbitration process pursued to resolve outstanding collective bargaining issues, including compensation. The new compensation framework is included in the RCMP's second collective agreement, which has since been finalized for a term ending on March 31, 2025.
The total financial impact on local governments, including retroactive amounts owed, will not be known until the federal government provides cost estimates to its contract partners. Invoices for retroactive payments will follow, and be billed as part of the regular billing cycle. Local governments will have 45-days to make their payments, in accordance with the provisions in their Municipal Police Unit Agreements. There will not be a two-year payment period, as was provided for the retroactive liability associated with the first collective agreement. The total retroactive amount owed by B.C. local governments is expected to be less than the amount owed as part of the first collective agreement.
RCMP Commissioned Officers (rank of Inspector and above) have also received a salary increase from the federal government that is structured similarly to the compensation framework awarded to unionized Members.
Based on the timelines outlined in the second collective agreement, the union representing RCMP Members will be able to submit a notice to bargain as early as December 2024. In advance of the third round of collective bargaining, UBCM has sought the input of its members (via email) regarding local government priorities and concerns. This information has been conveyed to the national Contract Management Committee.
Local governments have also received a new planning rate (i.e., non-contractual estimate) in their multi-year financial plans, to assist in planning for the impacts associated with collective bargaining. Please be advised that negotiated salary increases or those imposed through third party arbitration could result in increases below or above the planning rate. If B.C. local governments wish to build contingencies that are higher than those included in their multi-year financial plans into their financial planning processes to mitigate potential fluctuations in negotiated rates or the possibility of arbitration, they are encouraged to do so.Correspondence
UBCM to Mayors, Chairs & CAOs of RCMP-Policed Communities re Opportunity to Discuss Collective Agreement (Apr. 2022)
UBCM to Public Safety Canada & RCMP re Billing & Collection of Retroactive Payments (Mar. 2022)
UBCM to Minister Marco Mendicino re RCMP Collective Agreement (Nov. 2021)
UBCM to Minister Ralph Goodale re RCMP Collective Bargaining (Nov. 2018)
Public Safety Canada to UBCM re Bill C-7 (Jan 2018)
UBCM to Public Safety Canada re Bill C-7 (Oct. 2017)
UBCM to BC Senators re Bill C-7 (Oct. 2017)
Treasury Board of Canada to UBCM re Bill C-7 (Sept. 2017)
UBCM to Ministers Goodale & Brison re Concerns with Bill C-7 (Apr. 2017)
Articles
Salary Increases for RCMP Commissioned Officers (Sept. 2024)
Second RCMP Collective Agreement Ratified (Sept. 2024)
Arbitrator's Decision Sets RCMP Pay (Apr. 2024)
Canada and RCMP Union Proceeding to Arbitration (Mar. 2024)
RCMP Retroactive Costs for Small Communities (Aug. 2023)
Collective Bargaining for Second RCMP Collective Agreement (June 2023)
Extension Granted for RCMP Retroactive Cost Payment (Apr. 2023)
Local Governments to Pay RCMP Retroactive Costs (Apr. 2023)
Update on RCMP Collective Agreement (Mar. 2023)
Update on RCMP Retroactive Costs (Aug. 2022)
Collective Agreement Concerns Conveyed (May. 2022)
Salary Increases for RCMP Commissioned Officers (Apr. 2022)
Public Safety Canada, RCMP to Discuss Collective Agreement (Apr. 2022)
FAQ on RCMP Retroactive Costs (Apr. 2022)
Update on RCMP Collective Agreement (Feb. 2022)
UBCM Seeks Federal Action on Policing Costs (Nov. 2021)
RCMP Members Ratify Collective Agreement (Aug. 2021)
RCMP Union Agrees to Tentative Deal (June 2021)
Anticipating RCMP Unionization Costs (Jan. 2021)
RCMP Unionization Update (June 2020)
RCMP Elect Bargaining Agent (July 2019)
Documents
Public Safety Canada - Second RCMP Collective Agreement (July 2024)
Public Safety Canada - RCMP Collective Agreement FAQ (Apr. 2022)Following an Auxiliary Program safety review that began in 2014, the RCMP has introduced a new tiered model that will allow divisions and contract partners to choose one or a mixture of tiers based on local needs and circumstances. Activities will vary depending on tier chosen, but can include public safety education, crime prevention, assisting at major events, traffic control, and/or general duty operational patrols with RCMP Members. In April 2020, owing to the creation of this new tiered model, the legacy Auxiliary Constable Program was terminated.
In early 2023, an MOU was signed by the Province and B.C. RCMP. Both sides agreed to implement the new Auxiliary Program at the highest level available (Tier 3), applicable province-wide where the RCMP is the police agency of jurisdiction.
The Province is covering the costs associated with implementation of the program, including training, uniforms, and medical expenses. Local governments that implement the new Auxiliary Program will be responsible for all ongoing costs associated with operations. These local governments will also be able to request new Auxiliaries on an annual basis, with the Province acting as final decisionmaker based in part on available funding and other requirements.
The UBCM Executive has previously endorsed a motion seeking the temporary implementation of the new Auxiliary Program at the Tier 3 level, while also requesting that a BC-only program be established. This motion reflects the important role that Auxiliaries play in many BC communities that rely on their services to address seasonal demands, events, and other enforcement needs; as well as the long-term objective of implementing a provincial program that meets the needs of BC local governments.
Articles
B.C.'s New Auxiliary Program Has Started (May 2024)
New Auxiliary Program (Feb. 2023)
RCMP Auxiliary Program Update (Sept. 2021)
Input Sought on Auxiliary Policing Options (June 2021)
BC Considering Auxiliary Policing Options (July 2020)Correspondence
Province of BC to Affected Mayors re Auxiliary Policing Options (June 2020)
Minister Mike Farnworth to UBCM re Options for Auxiliary Policing (May 2020)
UBCM to Minister Mike Farnworth re Options for Auxiliary Policing (Mar. 2020)
Minister Mike Farnworth to UBCM re Auxiliary Program (Aug. 2019)
UBCM to Minister Mike Farnworth re Auxiliary Program (July 2019)
UBCM to Minister Mike Farnworth re Auxiliary Uniform (Apr. 2019)
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki to UBCM re Auxiliary Uniform (Nov. 2018)
UBCM to RCMP re Auxiliary Uniform (Aug. 2018)In June 2020, the Prime Minister and RCMP Commissioner offered their support to equipping officers with body worn cameras (BWC), with the intent to increase transparency, accountability and trust in police. While the federal government originally committed $238.5 million towards funding this initiative for the first three years following implementation, it eventually revised its position and only offered funding until April 2024 regardless of when implementation occurred. As a result, B.C. local governments will assume financial responsibility for BWC at the applicable cost-share rate once BWC are implemented.
B.C. is likely to need approximately 2,300 - 3,000 cameras, as well as several dozen dedicated staff members to manage the BWC system. It has been confirmed that all redaction, transcription and translation will be completed by divisional support staff.
Canada-wide implementation is expected to begin in November 2024, after the RCMP completes its work with the vendor to set up the service. National deployment will begin with a small group of priority sites in each Division. B.C.’s initial (‘wave zero’) sites are Tofino/Ahousaht, Mission, Cranbrook (City and B.C. Highway Patrol), Kamloops and Prince George.
The billing methodology will see BWC related costs billed at a per capita rate, to be calculated after each fiscal year. The billing formula captures the three main BWC costs: cameras, digital evidence management system, and support. The RCMP has confirmed that costs will be reduced to a projected rate of $1,640 per FTE for the 2024/25 fiscal year. The final rate will be based on reconciliation of actual costs at the end of the fiscal year. Contract partners will only face costs for 2024/25 if cameras are implemented in their detachments prior to the end of the fiscal year (March 31, 2025). For those that do receive BWCs in 2024/25, costs will be pro-rated based on implementation timelines and the ratio of cameras received in each jurisdiction.
Articles
RCMP Body Worn Cameras Nearing Implementation (Apr. 2024)
Update on Body Worn Cameras (Dec. 2023)
Update on Federal Decision on BWC Costs (Aug. 2023)Correspondence
UBCM to Minister Marco Mendicino re Implementation of Body Worn Cameras (Dec. 2021)
Additional Policing Resources
- Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee Webpage
- Local Government Policing Communications Portal
(includes presentations and videos from the Policing 101 and MPUA Agreements webinars) - UBCM Policing Factsheet (updated 2022)