Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc arrives to appear before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs in Ottawa, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Leblanc has told the British Columbia government Ottawa will continue to back the RCMP as the province's contract police force serving many cities and rural and remote areas amid an ongoing force transition. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
VICTORIA - Ottawa will maintain its support for the RCMP as British Columbia's contract police force while also working towards establishing a national force for federal-level crimes, announced federal Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
In a letter to B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, LeBlanc assured that the federal government is dedicated to fulfilling its contract policing commitments. He emphasized that federal policing will eventually be separate from the RCMP's contract policing role, ensuring focused resources and responses to evolving threats.
Premier David Eby said the letter provides short-term stability for contract policing in B.C. and signals federal intentions to reform the RCMP into a federal force akin to the FBI in the United States. He stressed the importance of having responsive emergency services, highlighting the ongoing issue of unfilled RCMP officer positions despite provincial funding.
In 2022, B.C. allocated $230 million to fill 270 rural and specialized RCMP positions, yet many remain vacant. LeBlanc acknowledged the crucial role of contract policing in Indigenous communities, reaffirming the federal commitment to effective and responsive service delivery in these areas.
LeBlanc’s mandate includes transforming the RCMP into a federal police agency, distinct from its current contract policing operations. This transformation is aimed at ensuring the RCMP is well-positioned to address contemporary challenges. The federal government’s move follows recommendations from a commission of inquiry into the 2020 Nova Scotia shootings, which suggested prioritizing federal-level tasks for the RCMP.
The city of Surrey in Metro Vancouver recently decided to replace the RCMP with a municipal police force after a lengthy process. Farnworth expressed relief at LeBlanc's reassurances, noting the provinces' call for more police resources and increased federal attention to policing.
The RCMP currently provides front-line policing services through contracts with all provinces and territories, except Ontario and Quebec. These contracts are set to expire on March 31, 2032.
In April 2022, a B.C. legislative committee recommended transitioning to a new provincial police force as part of an examination of the province's Police Act.
