A number of B.C. municipalities are crying foul after receiving word that Ottawa has mandated pay increases for Mounties that could leave some cities on the hook for millions.
Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts says she received en email dictating seven separate raises that had been approved by the federal government, but which were not part of B.C.'s lengthy RCMP contract negotiations that wrapped up last month.
"Here is this piece that was not discussed, and so… as the largest detachment in the country, we're looking at anywhere from a $6-$8 million hit," Watts said.
Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender sent a letter on behalf of the Union of B.C. Municipalities to federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews Thursday, expressing frustration at the lack of any form of consultation in the government's decision.
Fassbender said the pay increases will have a "major impact on all local government elected officials," and blasted the unanticipated move as being "totally inconsistent with the spirit and intent" of B.C.'s recently-renewed 20-year contract with the RCMP contract.
When the contract was signed on March 21, B.C. Justice Minister Shirley Bond and federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews lauded the agreement for the unprecedented level of scrutiny local governments would have over costs.
Premier Christy Clark had threatened to create a provincial police, which her government argued would be a cheaper option than operating under Ottawa's terms.
But Bond says her ministry received no information about a new compensation package for the RCMP, and is "deeply concerned about any potential impacts on our municipalities."
"On several calls we were reassured that this decision, in conjunction with other federal budget measures, was unlikely to result in increased costs," Bond said in a written statement Thursday night.
"We requested clarity and more information as quickly as possible. We have not yet received that information."
The Ministry of Public Safety responded Friday afternoon, stating that the terms of the raises were discussed with the provinces in April 2011, and again in a teleconference in July of that year.
