Ottawa will continue to back the RCMP as British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 contract police force that serves many communities even as it moves toward a national force for federal-level crimes, says federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
害羞草研究所淎s the work on the federal policing program unfolds, I want to assure you that I, and the federal government as a whole, are committed to honour our contract policing obligations,害羞草研究所� LeBlanc said in a letter to B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
害羞草研究所淚 envision an end-state for federal policing that is separate and distinct from the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 contract policing mandate,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭his will assure dedicated resources and prioritization of policing response to the ever-changing threat environment.害羞草研究所�
The letter provides short-term certainty for contract policing in B.C., while indicating the federal government wants to reform how the Mounties operate, Premier David Eby said Thursday.
He said it describes the federal government害羞草研究所檚 plan to move the RCMP towards a federal police force 害羞草研究所渓ike the FBI in the United States.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭he critical piece for us, regardless of who answers the 911 call is that there害羞草研究所檚 somebody who answers the 911 call,害羞草研究所� said Eby. 害羞草研究所淭he big challenge we have with the RCMP is filling those (officer position) vacancies we害羞草研究所檝e funded provincially.害羞草研究所�
B.C. budgeted $230 million in 2022 to fill 270 rural and specialized RCMP officer positions, while other positions still remain vacant.
LeBlanc害羞草研究所檚 letter said the federal government is committed to honouring its contract policing obligations.
害羞草研究所淚 also wish to acknowledge the essential role that contract policing plays in support of policing in Indigenous communities, and our continued commitment to contract policing includes the effective and responsive delivery of policing in these communities,害羞草研究所� he said.
LeBlanc said his mandate is to transform the RCMP, which he envisions will become a federal police agency separate and distinct from the RCMP害羞草研究所檚 front-line contract policing operations.
害羞草研究所淭he prime minister gave me a mandate to transform the RCMP and ensure this organization, which is so central to Canadian identity, is well-positioned and supported to face the unique challenges of our time,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲ith this letter, I am writing to inform you of my efforts to strengthen policing in Canada through decisive and timely transformation of the RCMP.害羞草研究所�
A commission of inquiry into the 2020 Nova Scotia shootings recommended last year that the public safety minister establish priorities for the RCMP, keeping the tasks that are suitable to a federal policing agency.
The Metro Vancouver city of Surrey decided recently after a lengthy process to leave the RCMP and transition to a municipal police force.
Farnworth said he害羞草研究所檚 comforted by LeBlanc害羞草研究所檚 letter, particularly since provinces, including B.C., have called for more police resources and the greater need for increased federal attention to policing issues.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 pleased with the letter and I害羞草研究所檓 particularly pleased with what they are talking about in terms of federal policing,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hat is something the provinces have been concerned about.害羞草研究所�
The RCMP provides front-line policing services through contracts with all provinces and territories, except Ontario and Quebec.
The current RCMP contracts are set to expire March 31, 2032.
In April 2022, an all-party committee of the B.C. legislature examining reforming the province害羞草研究所檚 Police Act recommended transitioning to a new provincial police force.
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