Community minister Bill Bennett has helped resolve a dispute between a number of municipalities, BC Ferries and the BC Assessment Appeal Board. Bennett says the deal will see make sure ferry terminal properties are accurately assessed, after the appeal board reduced their value to virtually nothing last year and put local governments on the hook … [Read more...]
RCMP severance payouts may fall to municipalities
January 23, 2013 by
The Federal Government is looking to eventually do away with RCMP severance packages but the problem is local governments weren't told. Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender local governments are realizing they will have to pay for any severance buy outs accepted by RCMP officers. However Fassbender says figuring out the exact dollar … [Read more...]
New RCMP HQ might not cost municipalities as much as initially feared
January 22, 2013 by
The Mayor of Surrey says municipalities may not be on the hook for as much of the bill for the new Surrey RCMP headquarters as initially feared. Dianne Watts says at an meeting on policing costs in Ottawa last week she was told a part of the bill could be picked up by Public Safety Canada. "And so any of the capitol costs I have been told that we … [Read more...]
Costs to province and municipalities for new RCMP HQ still a mystery
October 11, 2012 by
As mounties get set to move into their new $ 1.2 billion headquarters in Surrey both provincial and local governments remain in the dark about how much of the bill they will foot. Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender says the cost sharing between Ottawa, the province, and municipalities was supposed to be settled in negotiations. But with four … [Read more...]
Only two municipalities left to sign RCMP contract
June 27, 2012 by
The list of municipalities holding off on signing the new RCMP contract has dwindled down to just two.The municipal observer the RCMP talks and Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender says only Ladysmith and Squamish have yet to signal their intentions.The Mayor of Squamish refused to talk to CKNW about the contract just last week.And Fassbender says … [Read more...]
Ottawa says almost all municipalities are happy with RCMP contract
June 21, 2012 by
Canada's Pubic Safety minister is playing down concerns of some mayors over the new RCMP contract. Vic Toews says very few municipalities are unhappy with the RCMP contract and the few that are "It is either a political issue on the part of some of the municipalities or it is ..well I am not quite sure what the issue is." Toews … [Read more...]
Municipalities in the valley will meet to talk Regional District woes
June 14, 2012 by
The Mayor of Abbotsford wants to settle, once and for all, regional district woes with his community and its neighbours To that end Bruce Banman says he will hold meeting with mayors from the two Langley's, Mission, and Chilliwack on June 22nd to tackle the issue. "We are going to have everyone concerned sit down around a … [Read more...]
Premier suggesting all municipalities approve new RCMP contract
June 2, 2012 by
While Canada's national police force waits for several communities in British Columbia to approve a new 20-year contract, Premier Christy Clark is strongly suggesting.... they should get on with it. More than 40 of the 62 communities policed by the RCMP have ratified the contract. Prominent hold-outs include North Vancouver, Coquitlam, … [Read more...]
Some municipalities still won’t ratify RCMP deal
April 25, 2012 by
Municipalities across the province are still wading through the new RCMP deal, even as more and more have chosen to ratify the contract. Terrace Mayor David Pernarowski says his city hasn't signed off yet, as staff try to determine the budget impact of those surprise wage hikes. Pernarowski says Terrace will likely sign off before the end-of-May … [Read more...]
BC creates auditor general for municipalities
November 24, 2011 by
VANCOUVER - The B.C. government is establishing an auditor general for provincial municipalities, saying it will strengthen accountability for towns and cities.Premier Christy Clark says the Auditor General for Local Government will help ensure municipalities spend money efficiently and improve taxpayer-funded programs by providing what Clark … [Read more...]
