With a first contract possibly soon to be in place with RCMP union, Municipal governments across BC await word on increased cost for policing

Prince Rupert Mounties and their fellow members across 
Canada are currently in the process of a ratification vote 
towards a first contract since they unionized

Members of the RCMP across Canada have reason to celebrate this week, as their newly formed union has successfully negotiated a first contract for the membership, the labour discussions making for some significant gains financially for the Mounties and a fiscal shift that will mean she reshuffling of finances at the municipal level for many communities, including Prince Rupert.

The UBCM provided the heads up for the municipal governments in late June noting that the details of the tentative agreement had yet to bear released.

In a statement from the Government of Canada on June 28th it was noted that the negotiations having resulted in a six year deal that will apply to over 19,000 regular members below the rank of Inspector as well as RCMP reservist members.

“If RCMP members and reservists vote in favour of the tentative agreement reached between the Government of Canada and the National Police Federation, it will be the first time in the history of the force that they will have had a collective agreement. I’d like to congratulate the parties for reaching an agreement and wish them well in their partnership.” -- Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

For its part the National Police Federation Board endorsed the tentative collective agreement with a ratification vote process now in motion for RCMP Members across the country.

“This new Collective Agreement will provide RCMP Members with fair, competitive compensation after falling behind other provincial and municipal police services for far too long and going without a raise for four-and-a-half yearsIt will also help create a more clear, predictable, and defined workplace for all Members, and support recruitment and increased resources benefiting all Canadians.” -- Brian Sauvé, President of the National Police Federation. 

The RCMP provide policing services on a contract basis with the majority of the small to medium sized communities of the province, and even some of the larger urban areas, with the municipalities responsible for much of the salary requirements for their particular detachment.

As we outlined in January of this year, the UBCM had cautioned the municipal governments of the potential increase to their policing costs, providing a report on the impact that a negotiated contract with the union may bring.

Among their observations at the time was how the salary structure would increase significantly as the RCMP Members caught up with some of the contracts in place with larger municipal forces in the nation.

As the details are released related to any salary increases, Municipal governments will then have to assess how much service they can afford or how they can access the funding to provide for their policing needs.

Beyond the prospect of an increased pay package for local Mounties, Prince Rupert will be seeing some other financial themes of note towards policing in the year ahead.

As the City noted in their Annual Report last month, the municipality has acquired land for the construction of a new RCMP detachment in the city, with the site of the old Jehovah Witnesses location adjacent to the Prince Rupert Court House the city's preferred site for the new detachment. 

The topic also one noted in the Mayor's Message that came with this years report.

So far other than the land acquisition announcement,  the timeline to date notes that engineering and design will take place in 2021, while there is still no indication as to when it is anticipated that the new facility will be in service for the local detachment.

The annual report also offered up a snap shot of some of the RCMP's work in the last year as well as the focus for the future.

For notes on the work of all Emergency Responders in the community see our archive page here.

Notes on City Council Discussion themes can be explored here.