It might be a new year but it is the same old story when it comes to negotiations over the cost sharing formula for the RCMP’s new Surrey headquarters.
Langley City mayor Peter Fassbender says the province has drawn a hard line in the sand over costs but he also admits with the Feds staying quiet it has been an entirely one sided conversation to date.
“And up to now we have had no direct discussions with them so the message of course has been very clear we are not going to accept any news costs and will only be paying the equivalent of what we were paying prior to them moving into the new headquarters.”
Fassbender says the lack of communication from Ottawa has been a challenge.
“I guess the way I would characterize it is that the Feds and Public Works have been less than forthcoming with the information so that we have real clarity and that has been frustrating to say the least.”
When asked if he was worried about negotiations not going BC’s way if the Feds chose to play hardball Fassbender said “Do we want to get a final resolution to all of the details? Absolutely. Am I worried we are not going to get that? I am not worried yet and I hope I don’t need to be worried because I think what is fair is that we only pay the equivalent of what we would have been paying if they had stayed at Heather street.”
The cost sharing formula will see Ottawa, the provincial government, and municipalities split the costs of the RCMP’s new Green Timbers headquarters.
Negotiations are also separate from the recently signed 20 year RCMP deal.
The building has a base price of $ 263 million but when you factor in other costs over the life of the deal like maintenance and financing the final tally is over a billion dollars.
The RCMP could move into the facility in a few months.
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