Frustration is growing among provincial and territorial governments that rely on RCMP services as they wait for Ottawa to develop a plan for the embattled national police force.
Outside of Ontario and Quebec, the RCMP provides front-line police services through contractual agreements with provinces and territories. Under these agreements, which expire in 2032, the provinces and territories pay 70 per cent of the cost of RCMP services, with the federal government covering the rest.
But there are growing voices calling for fundamental changes to the way the RCMP operates.
Almost exactly one year ago, an inquiry into the deadliest mass shooting in modern Canadian history criticized the RCMP’s response to the crisis at almost every level and recommended a thorough external and independent review of the agency.
The Mass Casualty Commission’s report said the review should “specifically examine the RCMP’s approach to contract enforcement and collaboration with contract partners, as well as its approach to community relations.”
Months after the report was released, Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Parliamentary Committee (NSICOP), one of Canada’s intelligence agencies, reported that the RCMP’s federal police responsibilities were being hampered by resource issues. did. -Crackdown on ground contracts.
The RCMP’s federal police responsibilities include financial crime, organized crime, international investigations, and threats to national security.
NSICOP chair Liberal MP David McGuinty said: “We are certainly calling on the federal government to look into the relationship between contract police and federal police within the organization.”
The federal government says it is evaluating the RCMP’s contracts with provinces and territories; It became a rumor Ottawa has signaled it is open to changing the RCMP’s mandate to focus entirely on federal enforcement, making it more similar to the FBI.
Saskatchewan Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman said the lack of clarity is causing anxiety among the provinces and territories.
“Tell me which way you’re going,” he said.
“We want to know the plan… We want to know with some degree of certainty what’s going on with the future of police forces in Canada. The federal government hasn’t given us any direction.”
B.C. wants answers ‘as soon as possible’
Other provincial governments contacted by CBC took a similar view.
A spokesperson for New Brunswick Public Safety Minister Chris Austin said New Brunswick is waiting to see how the federal government responds to the mass casualty commission.
“In the meantime, Minister Austin has worked with provincial and territorial officials to urge the Government of Canada to provide clarity on the future issue of contract enforcement,” the spokesperson said.
“Our top priority is the safety of both our officers and the community.”
In a statement sent to CBC News, British Columbia’s Ministry of Public Safety and Attorney General said: “We continue to seek direction from the federal government on the future of contract policing as it impacts how we provide and pay for police in our communities. “There is,” he said.
“B.C. and municipalities call on the federal government to communicate its plans for the future of contract enforcement as soon as possible to allow all parties sufficient planning and implementation time to engage in negotiations in earnest.” There is.
“Changes to existing agreements could have far-reaching implications for municipalities and provinces regarding RCMP service delivery and costs.”
Merriman said 2032 feels far away, but each state needs to know soon whether it needs to create and fully fund its own state police force.
“I think the time has come,” he said,
“There will be legal requirements, both federal and local.” [governments], requires a lot of background work before that. And I think the RCMP public wants to know. ”
Earlier this month, the Alberta government announced legislation that would lay the groundwork for a new provincial police agency comprised of sheriffs.
Mike Ellis, Alberta’s minister of public safety and emergency services, said the new service will not replace the RCMP, but the province will use it in case the current contract expires in 2032 and the RCMP stops providing community policing. He said he is building a service.
“No matter how much money you give them, the RCMP doesn’t have enough people to police Canada,” Ellis said at a recent press conference. “It’s difficult, I get that. But I can’t wait for them to just keep trying to find something.”
Merriman said Saskatchewan is in favor of retaining the RCMP, if it’s still on the table.
“The RCMP has a good reputation in our rural areas, and we want to keep them there,” he said.
“But the decision to keep them there is not ours. It’s the federal government’s decision.”
Contract enforcement “shuts out” other needs: Briefing session
The concerns being felt in state and territory capitals come as no surprise to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
According to internal documents, LeBlanc received a briefing from police officials in November 2023 about the “future of policing” and the RCMP.
Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request show the minister was warned that states and territories were concerned about “uncertainty over the future federal police role”.
One of the briefing documents said the minister was warned that “federal investment is insufficient to commensurate with increased mission and delivery requirements” and that “contract oversight requirements are inadequate.” [are] Funding and delivery in other mission areas would be locked out. ”
“Despite multiple reviews recommending changes to Canada’s national police service, the federal government’s role in policing has remained largely unchanged since the introduction of contract policing in 1928,” the brief states. There is.
“Increasing costs of policing, increasing social disorder in the post-pandemic environment, and the increasing complexity of threats to Canada’s security also require a new vision for Canadian policing that respects jurisdictional responsibilities and is responsive. It is an important driver of the call to build.”
It’s not clear what LeBlanc’s department thinks a “new vision for policing” should look like, as the briefing documents have been heavily redacted.
LeBlanc’s office did not respond to CBC’s request for comment.
RCMP Chief Michael Duhem is expected to provide an update this morning on the national police response to the Mass Casualty Commission’s recommendations.
