A Colwood councillor is raising the alarm on provincial and federal government plans to pass on the cost of 9-1-1 call-taking and police dispatch services to 10 South Island municipalities.
From April 1, 2025, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin, North Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, View Royal, North Cowichan, Duncan and Ladysmith will be expected to cover 100 per cent of the cost of the E-Comm 9-1-1 service.
Currently funding for the service is split between the province (70 per cent) and the federal government (30 per cent).
Coun. Ian Ward says he estimates it will cost Colwood “over $500,000 annually,” with significant cost implications for the other nine affected municipalities.
And he warns that residents will feel the crunch in their property tax bills.
“For us (Colwood), that's at least probably a two per cent tax increase all on its own … depending on the cost breakdown,” he said. “It's not a small chunk of change, to be honest with you.”
Originally managed by a local RCMP operational communication centre (OCC), the dispatch service, in what Ward describes as a “provincial push”, was moved to E-Comm 9-1-1 in 2019.
At the time, Ward says the municipalities were told that funding for the service would remain unchanged.
But in a surprise move, both the federal and provincial governments announced they were pulling their funding.
“It took everybody by surprise,” said Ward.
The province and federal governments will continue funding for RCMP OCC dispatch services in all other areas across B.C., a move that has left councillors disgruntled.
In an effort to put a pause on the plans, all 10 mayors from the affected municipalities wrote to Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth, calling for “province-wide equity.”
“We strongly believe that all jurisdictions should be moving to full cost assumption at the same time, and the South Island should not be singled out for this treatment,” said the 10 mayors in the letter, dated Dec. 21, 2023.
“We understand that the continuation of funding for police dispatch costs for South Island communities would require funding through the Treasury Board,” the letter continues. “We are appealing to you and your ministry to put forward such a funding request on our behalf.”
According to Ward, the mayors have received no response from the ministry, and he fears the wall of silence will continue until after the provincial elections in October.
“The mayors are trying to do the delicate dance with the province and not offend anybody, particularly in lead up to election,” said Ward. “But, you know, I don't have those qualms, and I believe that taxpayers need to understand what's at stake here, and the election is probably the perfect time to be asking questions.
“Why, on the one hand, is the province making all these other financial commitments in other areas, but at the same time offloading these costs to taxpayers.”
Farnworth was approached for comment.
