Updates from the Local Government Contract Management Committee, articles related to policing advocacy, legislation, policy, and relevant news.
One of the first sessions at Convention this year was a panel discussing rising costs for local governments who use RCMP policing services. Local governments across BC have been sharing concerns that taxpayers are paying the price without having enough input into how policing is funded and delivered.
The Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee (LGCMC) will be meeting on June 9, 2026. Local governments wishing to suggest discussion items related to the agreement under which the RCMP provides local police services in B.C. are asked to submit input to Bhar Sihota, UBCM Senior Policy Analyst, by May 22, 2026.
Last month, the Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee (LGCMC) met with provincial government and B.C. RCMP representatives to discuss issues related to the Municipal Police Unit Agreements (MPUAs), and policing more broadly in British Columbia. Issues discussed at the meeting are summarized in this article.
A letter from RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald to mayors and CAOs is once again reminding local governments to plan and forecast for financial impacts, including retroactive costs, associated with RCMP collective bargaining. This letter comes following discussion by the BC Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee regarding the need to re-iterate this message to impacted local governments.
UBCM is seeking one local government representative to fill a vacancy on the Province’s Advisory Committee on Provincial Policing Standards. Given the technical nature of the issues that the committee will be considering, UBCM is looking to nominate one local government staff member. Interested individuals are asked to contact Bhar Sihota, UBCM Senior Policy Analyst, by February 6, 2026.
The Province’s internal review of its Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative (ReVOII) has found that police interactions involving accused individuals decreased by approximately 50% in the 18 months after joining the program. The ReVOII has thus far provided support and supervision to more than 400 high-risk offenders.
Although official confirmation has not yet been provided, the federal government has indicated its willingness to re-negotiate the 20-year RCMP Police Service Agreements (PSA) that are set to expire in 2032. This comes as local governments, including UBCM, continue to call on the federal government to directly involve local governments as part of any negotiations.
In late October, the Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee (LGCMC) met with provincial government and BC RCMP representatives to discuss issues related to the Municipal Police Unit Agreements (MPUAs), and policing more broadly in British Columbia. Issues discussed at the meeting are summarized in this article.
On October 23, the federal government introduced the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, which includes more than 80 proposed amendments to the Criminal Code. Many changes broadly respond to local government concerns, including resolutions and correspondence seeking stricter bail conditions for repeat offenders. A UBCM analysis follows.
The legislation includes the following proposed amendments to the Criminal Code:
Since 2022, local governments have been meeting with the provincial government as part of a Police Act and public safety review through the UBCM-PSSG Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable.