National

Keeping RCMP saves Surrey, B.C., $235M: report

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Dec, 2022 01:07 PM

SURREY, B.C. - City council in Surrey, B.C., has voted to send a plan to the province to keep the RCMP as its police force, saying it would save $235 million over five years.

Mayor Brenda Locke, who campaigned on a promise to retain the RCMP, says that savings for Surrey taxpayers is enormous and the city must stick with the Mounties because it can’t afford to make the change.

The report says the cost of 734 officers with the Surrey Police Service would be $249,460 per officer, while each Mountie would be $205,990.

The city says the plan will be sent to Solicitor General Mike Farnworth by Dec. 15 for his final review and approval, and Locke says she expects an answer back by early in the new year.

Locke says a prompt decision from Farnworth is essential to prevent any further unnecessary spending.

The Surrey Police Service, which is well into its transition in the city, says in a statement the report overestimates how many of its officers would join the Surrey RCMP and doesn't consider $100 million in costs that have already been incurred.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Trial for B.C. mayor charged with public mischief

McCallum ran his campaign against the backdrop of the charge laid last December, four months after he complained to the RCMP that a woman collecting signatures to keep the Mounties in Surrey ran over his foot outside a grocery store.

Trial for B.C. mayor charged with public mischief

NTSB seeks inspection of Canadian-made plane

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board issued an urgent safety recommendation Thursday, calling on Transport Canada and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to require immediate inspections of De Havilland Canada DHC-3 airplanes, better known as the DHC-3 Otter.

NTSB seeks inspection of Canadian-made plane

Feds move toward stand-alone dental insurance

Health Canada officials, who gave a briefing on the condition they not be named publicly, said that would help the government refine the program before hiring a company to do the work. The Liberals committed to some form of federal dental-care coverage for low-income Canadians in its March confidence and supply agreement with the New Democrats.

Feds move toward stand-alone dental insurance

Freeland's fiscal update coming Thursday

The fiscal update, to be presented in the House of Commons, will also share the government's outlook for an economy facing high inflation and staring down a potential recession in the coming months.

Freeland's fiscal update coming Thursday

New storm bears down on coastal B.C.

The incoming storm is also expected to deluge parts of Metro Vancouver, including Coquitlam and Maple Ridge, with more than 100 millimetres of rain before it eases late Sunday and the weather office says rainfall warnings are likely to be issued as the forecasts are refined.

New storm bears down on coastal B.C.

Dental care benefit passes third reading

Dental care is a pillar of the supply and confidence deal between the Liberals and the NDP. The Liberals promised to launch a federal dental care insurance program by the end of 2022, starting with coverage for children from low- and middle-income families.