The new RCMP contract is a key milestone in creating a new vision for policing in B.C. Communities can have confidence that all of the policing partners - federal, provincial, municipal, and the RCMP itself - are committed to modernizing policing in B.C. through collaboration.

B.C. communities directly involved

• Municipalities are represented on the national Contract Management Committee (CMC), which is intended to allow all levels of government jointly oversee how the RCMP delivers contract police services and how costs are managed.
• The enhanced national CMC and the UBCM Local Government Contract Management Committee continue to work on immediate priorities.
• Performance plans from the RCMP, the first of which was presented at UBCM in 2012, are a key example of the empowered partnership role that our government and B.C. communities will continue to play as a result of the new contract relationship.
• The performance plan for the provincial force includes targets directly tied to provincial and municipal client satisfaction measures.
• For example, one accountability goal is tied to our satisfaction with the realignment and improvements of financial reporting as laid out in the new contract.
• While the agreement has a 20-year term, it also has a two-year opt out clause, with five-year reviews.

Containing costs

• The new contract contains greater financial accountability and measures intended to monitor and contain costs over time.
• The basic cost-sharing formulas remain the same as the 1992 policing agreements, but the ability for municipalities to monitor and plan for costs is substantially improved.

Actions taken by RCMP

• The RCMP is aligning its financial planning and reporting with municipalities' 5-year planning requirements.
• The RCMP is also making improvements in transparency, breaking out cost items, so we can effectively monitor trends and determine whether or not we're getting value for money.
• We also have the power under the agreement to initiate independent reviews of RCMP programs, so we can ensure they are efficient and effectively meeting B.C. communities' needs.

Police forces in B.C.

• Municipalities over 5,000 people are responsible for their own police services.
• With the approval of the Minister they can form an independent police force, contract for RCMP services, or contract another jurisdiction's independent force.
• There are currently 75 municipalities in B.C. responsible for providing police services within their municipal boundaries.
• 63 of them are policed by the RCMP.

Media Contact:

Ministry of Justice
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 213-3602