Local representatives are once again voicing their concerns over the “unfair” RCMP funding process across Alberta.
Currently local RCMP detachments are being funded by towns and cities. Town's with a population between 5,000 and 15,000 have to pay 70 per cent of RCMP costs, while those with a population over 15,000 have to cover 90 per cent; the province covers the rest.
Town's with a population under 5,000 have their RCMP services completely covered by the province.
The issue many councillors across the province have with this system is that it puts “unfair” costs on towns whose population is slightly over 5,000 people.
According to Coun. Jim Cheverie, the Town of Bonnyville is responsible for covering an RCMP bill of approximately $1.3 million every year. The same goes for St. Paul, while Cold Lake is stiffed with a $1.8 million cost.
“It creates an unfair playing field for municipalities that are slightly over 5,000 people,” said Bonnyville Town Councillor Ray Prevost. “If the formula is one RCMP member for every thousand people than we should get the first five RCMP members for free and pay for the rest…whatever that is. That would be the fair way.”
Prevost has been part of the fight to even out the RCMP funding system for over ten years, dating back to 2004 when he was the Mayor of Bonnyville.
Prevost, along with Cheverie, brought the idea back up at the recent AUMA (Alberta Urban Municipalities Association) meetings in Calgary. Prevost questioned the Solicitor General Jonathan Denis, about the inequalities in the system, while Cheverie questioned Minister of Finance Robin Campbell, who represents West Yellowhead.
“St. Paul is a good example,” explained Prevost. “They have about 5,400 people and they pay around what we do. I don't know how (the province) can justify this thing.”
Coun. Cheverie is also put off by the fact that counties and municipal districts like the MD of Bonnyville and County of St. Paul, don't have to cover any RCMP costs.
“It is all about what the Conservative government preaches everyday and that is about being fair to all Albertans,” said Cheverie. “How can you be fair to all Albertans when only towns and cities pay for police services and counties and municipalities pay nothing?”
Prevost, on the other hand, isn't too upset over the fact counties and MD's get off with no charge. He just wants the system to be smoothed out and fixed.
“The MD of Bonnyville and County of St. Paul don't pay (for RCMP costs) and never have; charging them is not going to lower my bill,” said Prevost.
“I don't want them to pay. I want (the province) to give me a fair shake and treat me the same way they treat some of the other borderline towns.
Prevost says if towns under 5,000 people get there services for free than all towns and cities across Alberta should get the equivalent services for 5,000 people for free.
“The City of Edmonton would be in the same boat. They should get the same for free. Fair is fair. The province needs to treat everybody equally,” said Prevost.
The last time communities in the province started to kick up dust about the RCMP funding lead the province to make some changes.
Under the old system towns with fewer than 2,500 people got their RCMP services for free. To quiet the councillors who were complaining the province bumped the threshold up to 5,000 people.
“They bumped it up which eliminated a whole pile of municipalities that were quite vocal,” said Prevost. “It reduced our power considerably.”
Both Prevost and Cheverie are a little more optimistic this time around as they once again have a large group of municipalities voicing their displeasure.
According to Prevost a minster brought the topic up in caucus recently and received some support, including a backing from Bonnyville-Cold Lake MLA Genia Leskiw.
“They obviously have realized there are some inequalities in the system,” said Prevost. “I am a little optimistic but I am certainly not going to hold my breath.”
