Letter regarding 5-Year Review of the RCMP Police Service Agreements

December 14, 2015

UBCM Members

Attn: Mayors of Municipalities over 5,000 in Population that Receive Policing Services from the RCMP

RE: 5-Year Review of the RCMP Police Service Agreements

Dear Mayor,

We write to follow up on information regarding the Five Year Review of the RCMP Police Services Agreements that was included in The Compass following a meeting of the Local Government Contract Management Committee on April 30, 2015.

Article 22 of the Provincial Police Service Agreement (PPSA) provides Canada and the Provinces and Territories (P/Ts) with a Five Year Review mechanism to analyze and address any substantive issues, including financial issues, arising out of the implementation of the PPSA. The review process is intended to ensure the policing agreements meet the evolving needs of the parties, and assists to maintain their currency over the 20-year term. In accordance with Article 21.1 of the Municipal Police Unit Agreement (MPUA), amendments resulting from the review will be applicable to and binding on the MPUA.

In order for the Five Year Review process to be concluded by April 2017 as indicated in the PPSA, issues that may require attention must be received approximately 16 months in advance of that date. At this time, we would like to solicit your feedback so that we may effectively represent municipal interests to the federal order of government.

Please be advised that the Five Year Review is governed by rules that impact which issues will be included in the review; however, it is important to identify all issues as they may be addressed through other means. Two rules of particular note are:

1. For a matter to be included in the Five Year Review, it must be raised by and involve more than one P/T.
2. The National Contract Management Committee must agree on the matters to be reviewed and the intent of the review.

Thus far we have heard concerns regarding: the potential impacts of the impending new RCMP labour relations model; cost implications of the national programs (i.e. Police Dog Service Training Centre, the Cadet Training Program); clarification around the ability to provide provincially established/governed integrated teams; having stronger language related to the federal commitment to local policing; and other cost drivers.

Please note that the negotiations for Green Timbers accommodation costs, severance and the cost share for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team are bi-lateral in nature and are proceeding separately from the Five Year Review. Issues such as DNA analysis services costs are not part of the RCMP police services agreements.

Please provide your feedback to Bhar Sihota (bsihota@ubcm.ca) by January 22, 2015. We appreciate your participation and attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Councillor Sav Dhaliwal UBCM Past President Co-Chair LGCMC

Clayton Pecknold ADM, Ministry of Justice Co-Chair LGCMC