Whereas the current funding model for municipal RCMP police services imposes an immense financial burden on small municipalities when their census population reaches 5,000; And whereas implementation of the Provinces Homes for People plan, accelerating housing development and population growth, will push many small municipalities to the 5,000 census population trigger point sooner than previously anticipated: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to immediately increase the population threshold for RCMP contract policing costs payable by local governments from 5,000 to 10,000 and to develop, in partnership with local governments, a more fair and equitable shared funding model between all policing partners in British Columbia.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Options for a fair and equitable police shared funding model, including options to phase-in or incrementally increase the municipal share of policing costs, are being explored by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, as recommended by the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act. Extensive engagement with local governments was undertaken as part of the Policing and Public Safety Modernization initiative and will continue as policy options related to funding models and population thresholds are explored and as the overall scope and clarity of priorities for the Policing and Public Safety Modernization initiative are confirmed.