OLDS — Possibly as early as six months from now, council is expected to discuss the ramifications of an anticipated $800,000 increase in RCMP costs over the next five years.
Coun. Darren Wilson raised the issue during a town council meeting last month, noting council was told about that anticipated increase last July.
At that time, corporate services director Sheena Linderman said due to the increase, the Town of Olds' policing costs are expected to rise from $2.1 million to $2.9 million by 2029-30.
Policing costs were an issue that Mayor Judy Dahl raised on behalf of council in a letter sent to Premier Danielle Smith.
Council received a reply to that letter from Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver.
“As the Town of Olds is policed through a Municipal Police Service Agreement (MPSA) between the municipality and the federal government, I encourage you to raise any MPSA concerns directly with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or Public Safety Canada,” McIver wrote in a February letter to Dahl.
Wilson asked if chief administrative officer Brent Williams has any guidance for town council on how to advocate for the town regarding policing costs; whether, for example, to follow McIver’s advice.
Williams said the issue will come up for further discussion later this year, possibly as early as six months, along with other issues such as anticipated population growth.
He said anticipated increases in Olds RCMP costs and staffing will be factored into the town’s corporate planning, specifically in the protective service department.
Williams said it will also impact the community’s housing strategy “because one of the one of the ramifications of population growth is that it strains certain services, whether it be water, wastewater, recreation, policing as well.”
“The costs are unavoidable,” Williams added.
He said they’ll continue to grow, not only due to inflation, but also likely due to collective bargaining and membership growth.
Williams said it’s ironic that McIver advised the Town of Olds to take its concerns about increased policing costs to Public Safety Canada because “on the other hand, they're also restricting our ability to negotiate with the federal government.
“So I'll have to ask for clarity on how I'm allowed to speak with the federal government perhaps, because it doesn't seem to be totally consistent with their messaging.”
Williams said the federal government has at least given local governments “a seat at the table” in regard to public safety collective bargaining in order to “better understand and advocate for their positions.”
“I also believe at the provincial level, they have essentially raised the rates on policing while decreasing their own rates,” Williams said.
“So there's only one taxpayer, but they're putting more financial pressure on local governments to fund RCMP services that are largely provincially-led initiatives, whether it be the criminal code or other types of legislation that may be federal, but the province is responsible for managing.
“But municipalities are picking up the tab from both levels of government, so advocacy has to be continued.
“There seems to be a new initiative every month, whether it be sheriffs in downtown Calgary or sheriffs at the border, or federal agreements that we may or may not be able to enter into.
“So there's no clear answer right now, but we have to get more information and bring it to council,” he said.
