B.C. promises $230M for RCMP in 'unprecedented multi-year investment'
The B.C. government has promised to invest $230 million to improve police staffing levels across the province, particularly in rural and remote areas, over the next three years.
The funding will be distributed over the next three years with the goal of filling long-standing vacancies in rural police detachments and in specialized RCMP units.
Those specialized units include the Major Crimes Section, BC Highway Patrol and Sexual Exploitation of Children unit.
The province claims that increased staffing of provincially funded RCMP units, particularly specialized units, can benefit municipal polices forces by lightening their load so they can focus on other types of crime.
"Everyone deserves to feel safe, and my government is working on every front to protect our communities and make them stronger," said Premier David Eby in a release Wednesday.
"The actions today will help stabilize policing and provide our provincial police force with the staff resources they need to address public safety concerns head on," he said.
The B.C. government says provincially funded RCMP detachments are authorized to have up to 2,602 officers across the province.
Currently, there are about 277 vacancies across all provincially funded RCMP detachments, according to Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
The funding is intended to fill all those vacancies, though it's unclear how long that will take. It's one of the reasons why the commitment is spread over three years, says Farnworth.
The $230 million in funding will also go towards supporting prosecutors and probation officers who work with violent high-risk offenders.
Wednesday's announcement is part of the province's new Safer Communities Action Plan, which Eby announced Sunday.
Eby says the plan follows a two-pronged approach: enforcement and intervention.
The plan includes launching a repeat violent offenders co-ordinated response team and expanding counselling and mental health response teams.
The premier says there's also a focus on "building confidence" in the prosecution system, with the attorney general being tasked with implementing clearer approaches to bail conditions for repeat violent offenders.
The Opposition Liberals say random violent crime increased under Eby's recent watch as attorney general, where repeat offenders were often released only to reoffend.
The Liberals say random acts of violence throughout the province, but especially in Vancouver, have people fearful for their safety.
"We wholeheartedly welcome this unprecedented multi-year investment in the Provincial RCMP budget as it will have a direct impact in delivering public safety to the communities we proudly serve," said Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, Commanding Officer of the BC RCMP, in the release.
"The funding increase also signals a strong commitment to our police officers and employees who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe," he said.
With files from the Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.