British Columbia has no choice but to undertake an exhaustive review on the feasibility of a provincial police force, B.C. Conservative leader John Cummins says.
The federal government has issued a November ultimatum to the province and has threatened to pull the RCMP out of B.C. by 2014 if a 20-year contract renewal isn’t signed.
While the province insists their top priority is to renew their contract with the RCMP, Solicitor General Shirley Bond says negotiations are at a standstill over cost assurance and accountability. She warned creating a provincial police force to replace the RCMP would be “very expensive.”
But on Thursday, Cummins said B.C. isn’t left with much of a choice if they can’t extend bargaining.
“I’m not convinced [the RCMP] is the way to go,” Cummins said. “We need a pro-con analysis of all the options, that’s the only reasonable route for the province.”
Cummins has enlisted former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Brian Peckford to conduct an independent review for the B.C. Conservatives.
Peckford now lives in the Lower Mainland, but was premier when the province replaced the RCMP with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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