The recent announcement that 10 South Island municipalities will be required to fully fund E-Comm 911 services by next April is deeply troubling.
For years, the cost-sharing model between the provincial and federal governments ensured a fair distribution of financial responsibility. With this sudden policy shift, local governments are scrambling to cover substantial new expenses — costs that will undoubtedly be passed on to residents through increased property taxes.
Sooke Mayor Maja Tait has long raised concerns about this policy change, always hopeful that the province would reconsider. "I was floored when I found out that this is what they intended to do," said Tait, past-president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities, in an interview with Black Press two years ago.
Colwood Coun. Ian Ward warns that this change could lead to a two per cent tax hike in Colwood. His estimate of more than $500,000 annually underscores the significant financial burden this decision will impose on smaller municipalities.
The fact that the federal and provincial governments continue to fund RCMP dispatch services in other regions of B.C. adds insult to injury. Why should south Island communities be singled out for such unfair treatment?
Equally concerning is the Ministry of Public Safety's lack of response to the united appeal from the mayors of the affected municipalities. This silence suggests an unwillingness to engage on an issue directly impacting taxpayers.
With a provincial election on the horizon, residents must demand answers and accountability. If the province is committed to making financial commitments elsewhere, it should also ensure that essential services like 911 dispatch are equitably funded.
The mayors are right to demand province-wide equity. South Island taxpayers should not be punished for living in smaller communities. If the provincial government doesn't reverse this decision, it risks not only crippling local budgets but also shattering public trust in its ability to govern fairly.
