West Kelowna Demands Fair Funding for RCMP Policing Costs

West Kelowna’s city council is urging the provincial government to enhance its financial support for policing in the region. During a council meeting on September 16, 2023, officials discussed the implications of the recent de-regionalization of policing in the Central Okanagan, which has raised concerns about funding and resource allocation.

The 2022 MNP report prepared for the City of Kelowna identified significant flaws in the regional RCMP policing model. It noted that the structure was overly complex and lacked a sufficient governance framework. Furthermore, the report highlighted the absence of formalized agreements, leading to operational challenges. Following this, a 2024 report recommended that Kelowna transition to an independent RCMP unit. Lake Country will remain a separate detachment, while West Kelowna is expected to form an integrated unit encompassing rural areas, major highways, the Westbank First Nation lands, and Peachland.

At the recent council meeting, Fire Chief and General Manager of Protective Services Jason Brolund emphasized the urgency of establishing a clear financial and operational plan from the province. He stated, “We need to see clear financial and operational plans, and the province needs to provide proper funding and staffing for their share of the RCMP members in our detachment.”

Despite the 2024 RCMP report indicating that de-regionalization would be cost-neutral for the city, Brolund expressed concern about the province’s previous lack of response to requests for a comprehensive plan. “Several requests, including one on September 11, went unanswered until last week,” he noted, adding that the late response left little time for council to formulate a recommendation ahead of the upcoming UBCM Convention.

The discussion highlighted the precarious situation regarding policing resources. According to Brolund, the West Kelowna detachment is currently short seven to eight members, a situation exacerbated by the province’s inadequate contribution since the 2009 policing agreement. Mayor Gord Milsom pointed out, “Since we signed the policing agreement in 2009, the province has only added one new member to the rural detachment. I think we’ve added close to 19 over that same time frame. It’s not right.”

West Kelowna currently allocates approximately $10 million annually for its municipal policing costs. Milsom raised concerns about potential future expenses, stating, “Without knowing what those additional costs are, what would that increase do? We don’t know.”

The council’s frustrations were compounded by the perception that West Kelowna was not adequately consulted during the de-regionalization process. Brolund asserted, “It wasn’t with the right people, yourselves (council), and it wasn’t the right type of consulting, and there is no clear plan provided to date.”

In response to these issues, the council plans to formally request that Nina Krieger, the Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General, direct the RCMP and the provincial government to develop a comprehensive de-regionalization strategy. Councillors are scheduled to meet with Krieger during the upcoming UBCM Convention, which takes place in Victoria from September 22 to 26.

As West Kelowna navigates these challenges, the call for fair contributions to policing costs reflects broader concerns about governance and public safety in the region.