British Columbia has to make a decision on the same 20-year RCMP contract that is being offered to other provinces, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said yesterday.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Toews confirmed the Conservatives are in no mood to negotiate after imposing a November deadline on the new police service contract with B.C.
“After four intensive years of negotiations, it is now up to the provinces to decide whether or not to come on board,” Toews said. “We do not force provinces to accept the RCMP.
We think it is a good deal, but it is up to the provinces to do it.”
On Tuesday, B.C. Solicitor General Shirley Bond revealed the federal government is threatening to pull the RCMP out of the province in 2014 if she doesn’t accept the proposed 20-year contract by the end of November.
Bond maintains that the contract is unreasonable and has little in the way of accountability, cost containment and governance.
Alberta and Saskatchewan have agreed to identical deals offered by Ottawa, but Bond says they contain “me too” clauses that ensures the two breakaway provinces get any benefits that the other provinces – negotiating as a coalition – manage to negotiate.
Toews, however, appears unwilling to change the conditions of the contract.
“The same fundamental terms and condition will apply to all provinces,” the minister said.
“British Columbia will have to decide whether or not to accept the agreement.”
Bond said the province’s priority is to renew the RCMP contract, but if a deal can’t be reached B.C. may be forced to establish its own provincial police force.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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