The Liberal government is looking for ways to improve policing services provided under contract by the RCMP across Canada 害羞草研究所� eyeing everything from overall cost and sustainability to stronger oversight and accountability.
Among the possibilities are 害羞草研究所渕ore responsive害羞草研究所� police service models that could involve closer integration of the RCMP and community social services, say internal Public Safety Canada notes.
The notes, obtained through the Access to Information Act, are a discussion guide for wide-ranging consultations on options to strengthen the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 contract policing.
The RCMP provides front-line policing services through contracts with all provinces and territories, except Ontario and Quebec, as well as some 150 municipalities. Current agreements don害羞草研究所檛 expire until March 31, 2032.
Provinces and territories pay 70 per cent of RCMP costs and the federal government covers the remainder. Municipal agreements vary, sometimes depending on population size.
害羞草研究所淲hat principles should guide future discussions around how and which costs are shared between contract jurisdictions and the federal government?害羞草研究所� asks one of the discussion guide questions.
害羞草研究所淗ow could the contract policing program evolve to better meet the needs of the communities it serves?害羞草研究所�
Public Safety said the department, in collaboration with the RCMP, held in-person meetings from spring to fall 2023 of last year with officials from provinces and territories that participate in the contract policing program.
In addition, there were virtual sessions with municipal partners and other interested parties, such as the RCMP management advisory board, the Canadian Association of Police Governance, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the National Police Federation, which represents front-line Mounties.
Virtual meetings were also held with First Nations on a regional basis, and two national sharing circles took place in October.
A coming report will summarize the views of partners on the program, as well as 害羞草研究所渁reas for potential improvements,害羞草研究所� Public Safety said.
In recent years, some jurisdictions have pondered alternatives to the RCMP, with Surrey, B.C., and Grande Prairie, Alta., opting to create their own municipal police services.
The changes have played out against a bigger backdrop of fundamental questions about the overall role of the RCMP and how it can balance service to small communities with the demands of federal policing amid cyberthreats, financial crime and national security vulnerabilities.
害羞草研究所淭he nature of the risks and threats covered by federal policing are growing in complexity and significance,害羞草研究所� says a May 2023 memo to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, released under the access law.
害羞草研究所淣otwithstanding its exclusive responsibility for federal policing, the majority of the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 resources are allocated to contract policing.害羞草研究所�
A commission of inquiry into the horrific 2020 Nova Scotia shootings recommended last year that the federal public safety minister establish priorities for the RCMP, keeping the tasks that are suitable to a federal policing agency.
For the moment, the review of contract policing suggests the government is seeking measured improvements 害羞草研究所� not wholesale changes 害羞草研究所� to the contract policing system.
Uncertainty over federal intentions prompted National Police Federation president Brian Sauv茅 to write to Trudeau last July seeking clarity.
害羞草研究所淥ur members put their lives on the line every day, and they deserve certainty regarding the federal government害羞草研究所檚 long-term commitment to the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 important role in Canada害羞草研究所檚 provinces, territories and communities,害羞草研究所� he wrote.
Sauv茅 also stressed a need for the federation to participate in the consultation.
He said in a recent interview the letter opened the door to the federation sharing its views with officials.
Sauv茅 now believes the consultation on contract policing is about 害羞草研究所渕odernizing and improving service delivery.害羞草研究所�
RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme recently called the consultation a way to 害羞草研究所渢ouch base害羞草研究所� in the runup to renewal of agreements.
害羞草研究所淚 think with any type of business, when you害羞草研究所檙e going to renew a contract, you want to make sure that you害羞草研究所檝e addressed some of the shortcomings and try to incorporate what the people want into the contract,害羞草研究所� Duheme said.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e heard many favourable comments across the country about the organization,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪o I害羞草研究所檓 very confident that people want to maintain the RCMP.害羞草研究所�
Duheme said the force also respects that some communities have decided to set up their own police forces, adding it害羞草研究所檚 up to the RCMP to come to the table with the information for them 害羞草研究所渢o make an informed decision.害羞草研究所�
READ ALSO:
READ ALSO:
