Vegreville Joins FCM in Call for Federal Support for Heightened RCMP Costs
Vegreville, AB (November 10, 2021) – Significant and unbudgeted costs linked to contract policing following the recent RCMP bargaining agreement will have a significant financial impact on municipalities.
Vegreville is joining the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) in calling on the federal government to absorb all retroactive costs associated with the implementation of the new regime.
“Vegreville Town Council is very happy overall with our local RCMP officers and the work they do everyday to keep our residents safe. Our issue is with the bargaining process between the federal government and the National Police Federation. Municipalities cannot run deficits and have limited revenue tools yet, even though the end result leaves us with unexpected costs that have considerable impacts on our finances and operations, we (municipalities) were not consulted during the bargaining process.
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Tim MacPhee, Mayor, Town of Vegreville
Where municipalities were advised to prepare, estimates of 2.5% per year increases turned out to be far below the final agreement’s 23.7% increase over six years, with retroactive pay going back to 2017. Facing such unplanned costs, many local governments, especially in rural areas, are concerned about how they are supposed to pay.
“We’re asking the federal government to absorb all retroactive costs associated with the implementation of the new RCMP collective agreement, and going forward, an assurance that municipalities will be properly consulted prior to the implementation of measures that have a direct impact on our finances and operations.
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Tim MacPhee, Mayor, Town of Vegreville
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About Vegreville: Home to the World’s Largest Freestanding Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg), the Town of Vegreville is located about 100 kilometers east of Edmonton and conveniently adjacent to Highways 16 and 36, two of Western Canada’s major transportation corridors. A friendly and thriving community, Vegreville has positioned itself to become a future hub of Agriculture and Industrial Business thanks to its proximity to major cross-continental highways, access to TELUS PureFibre internet and the now under construction Prosperity Industrial Park.
About FCM: With over 2,000 members representing 90% of Canada's population, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is the national leader and voice of municipal government. Advocating in Ottawa on behalf of its members, FCM aims to ensure municipal priorities are reflected in federal policies and programs. FCM’s Board of Directors has 75 elected municipal officials and affiliate members from across Canada including FCM First Vice President and Town of Vegreville Councillor Taneen Rudyk.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Jamieson Brown
Communications & Marketing Manager, Town of Vegreville
Call/Text (780) 603-8101