Moncton plans public meetings on RCMP's future

Moncton is planning to hold a series of public meetings into the future of the Codiac Regional RCMP.

City council announced on Tuesday that a series of public meetings will begin next week on the local police force's future in Moncton. The municipal politicians are aiming to release a decision in three weeks.

Coun. Daniel Bourgeois said it's important for citizens to get involved in the decision on whether to renegotiate the cost-sharing agreement with Dieppe and Riverview on the regional police contract, establish a local RCMP force or create a municipal force.

The city has spent roughly $200,000 on studies on the policing issue.

"We're at the point now where we think we have enough information to go to the public and say, 'What do you think?'" Bourgeois said.

Bourgeois said city council will make a decision on Dec. 6 but he said that might not close the door on the issue.

The city is waiting to find out if the federal government will pick up an additional 10 per cent of the police tab, as it customarily does with other municipalities that contract RCMP services.

When Moncton council voted to pull out of the Codiac Regional RCMP agreement earlier this year, it was argued that it was too expensive for Moncton taxpayers because Dieppe and Riverview are not paying their fair share.

The average cost of RCMP service in Moncton for a $140,000 home is $467, while it's only $387 in Riverview and $245 in Dieppe, according to city officials.

Meanwhile, Riverview Mayor Clarence Sweetland said he hopes Moncton stays with federal force.

"If Moncton decides to go in some different direction, then the ball is in our court, then we have to look at what we're doing as well," Sweetland said.

Policing costs about $25 million a year in the greater Moncton area.

Ottawa is expected to announce whether it will share some of that expense by next March.