The deadline set by the province for municipalities to ratify the newRCMP contract is this Thursday, and a few communities are still holding back.
Langley City mayor, and municipal observer to the contract talks, Peter Fassbender says he expects about 50 of the 62 communities to ratify by the deadline.
Fassbender says while the province will probably allow for some leeway for muncipalities dragging their feet, one option if they don’t sign on is “That is if they don’t ratify then they are fact indicating that they are wanting to move to a different police service and then the Minister and her department are going to have to deal with them in terms of whether or not the province takes over policing in their communities until such time as they make an alternate decision.”
Fassbender says he can’t understand why all 62 communities haven’t signed on.
“I don’t know why they are hesitating if it was me I would sign, get on under the current contract. There are still some unanswered questions abou the new pay package but we are expecting answers on that in the coming weeks from the federal government. They assure us that with the other savings the costs will actually be lower.”
So far Burnaby, Richmond, and the District of North Vancouver are among communities holding off.
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