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Mayors not happy as RCMP move into new Surrey headquarters
VANCOUVER/CKNW (AM980)
Shane Woodford | Email news tips to shane.woodford@corusent.com
2/1/2013

The RCMP have begun moving into its new Surrey headquarters and at least one mayor is not happy about it.

The Mounties are moving into the Green Timbers facility in phases with everyone moved in by mid-April. 

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan is shaking his head as the RCMP make the move, noting the cost to local governments remains a mystery.

"We asked over and over again that the minister Shirley Bond deal with that issue while they were negotiating the contract but again we took short shrift we were the ones who were left out while she negotiated issues for the provincial government municipal governments who are paying the bulk of the bill were left out."

Corrigan says it is a flawed system and a perfect example of problems coming from Ottawa.

"Despite the best efforts of our local detachments, our local superintendents, to try and get information and work with us on a daily basis it seems the bureaucracy in Ottawa has a level of arrogance that leaves even their local police officers astounded."

Corrigan says it doesn't add up when you build first and figure out the costs later.

"We weren't even consulted about the Green Timbers site or exactly what role it would play in regard to regional policing and what impact there would be on costs for local government as a result of it, in fact it was really done behind the scenes by the federal

The Mayor of Langley city who represents local governments  on the RCMP contract management committee says a hard line has been drawn on costs.

Peter Fassbender says local governments and the province have told Ottawa they won't pay only their fair share for the RCMP headquarters. 

But Fassbender couldn't say what, roughly, that might be.

"I don't because the bottom line is we will not be on the hook for anymore than we would normally pay in our previous relationship in the other buildings and that is the position we have taken so that is what we are going to stand by."

Fassbender admits the process is off kilter with the RCMP headquarters built first and costs negotiated later.

"It is not supposed to work that way and absolutely you know this building was started long before we finished the contract negotiations and under the new contract this would never happen again."

The Green Timbers facility cost 263 million dollars to build but other cost drivers like financing over 25 years put the bill over a billion dollars.


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  1. BY_7463 posted on 02/01/2013 03:47 PM
    Looks like another good well thought out LIE BERAL program.
    1. howards_1187 posted on 02/02/2013 10:34 AM
      @BY_7463 No its a well thought out happercon program
  2. joes_2868 posted on 02/01/2013 04:10 PM
    How about getting the Federal arm of government on the topic as just about all of the project involves the federal government.
    1. RonE_1902 posted on 02/01/2013 05:34 PM
      @joes_2868 Well Coleman the Minister of "Everything" and X-RCMP member called Shirley Bond to accept the contract. A real possibility I suggest and Mayor Fassbender as well.

      Not a quantum leap as displayed by the Casino affair and Surrey Council I suggest.

      Well folks we are saddled with the Wal-Mart of policing for 20 some years and their "booze hall". This as well the constant download of hidden costs and poor local accountability (call Ottawa-Well are a Federal Agency).

      The Liberal lack of a plan "B" indicates to most folks the decision to resign the RCMP contract was a given right from the start.

      When we have grown to a point well before these negotiations that a Regional Police Agency is a must for the lower mainland how did we get sold short.
    2. Ken280 posted on 02/03/2013 12:40 PM
      @joes_2868 Hey Thumper the thump, why do you not comment on some Liberals wrong doing and just look at where and probablly why they got the contract signed, they got some much crap og the Liberal/coons of the coaliton they seem to call the shots?Maybe!
      Alex G. Tsakumis - Rebel With A Clause
      alexgtsakumis.com/3 days ago – Alex G. Tsakumis, political columnist and analyst, offers his insight on the world of politics. ... the REAL Adrian Dix, and the RCMP's TARGETED Attack on Glen Clark ... by the BC Liberals about the infamous Dix memo
  3. SlimP_9860 posted on 02/01/2013 04:42 PM
    That's why there's no money for a Kits Coast Guard station I guess. Will the new RCMP bar in the building have strippers?
  4. RonE_1902 posted on 02/01/2013 05:33 PM
    Well Coleman the Minister of "Everything" and X-RCMP member called Shirley Bond to accept the contract. A real possibility I suggest and Mayor Fassbender as well.

    Not a quantum leap as displayed by the Casino affair and Surrey Council I suggest.

    Well folks we are saddled with the Wal-Mart of policing for 20 some years and their "booze hall". This as well the constant download of hidden costs and poor local accountability (call Ottawa-Well are a Federal Agency).

    The Liberal lack of a plan "B" indicates to most folks the decision to resign the RCMP contract was a given right from the start.

    When we have grown to a point well before these negotiations that a Regional Police Agency is a must for the lower mainland how did we get sold short.
  5. ChrisM_18 posted on 02/01/2013 05:37 PM
    So Fastspender admits that the Process is off kilter !! What an understatement !! That's an understatement that only a socialist could appreciate !

    In the real world if I went down to my local Ford store and picked out the prettiest car on the lot and said that's the one for me - don't worry about the costs ,just send the bill to my wife I can predict how long the marriage would last and how long it would be before I would be declaring bankruptcy

    These wing nut politicians that get the Process out of kilter should be booted out to pasture yesterday!
    1. Ken280 posted on 02/01/2013 05:56 PM
      @ChrisM_18 Yeah! I agree!!! These Right wing nut politicians that get the Process out of kilter should be booted out to pasture yesterday!Take Thumper Joe! and the rest of the Liberal/cons of the coalition along with them! Go NDP Go
    2. RonE_1902 posted on 02/01/2013 07:22 PM
      @ChrisM_18 I like the Fastspender comment a lot ...........
  6. Chuck M posted on 02/01/2013 06:29 PM
    Well, they needed new digs and Vancouver is just to expensive plus the facility they were in was far to small and outdated.
    Expensive? You bet. One needs to remember that this is not a local office and jail cell. It houses all the operations that take place behind the scene. This is a Federal Force that supplies a tremendous amount of science and other technologies to work toward successful conclusions.
    This has little to do with Provincial Politics.
    This has everything to do with moving to a new Facility to be able to operate in todays world and offer the necessary support that E-Div can offer their men and women who are out there following up on crimes, investigating crimes and preventing things from happening.
    This is not a Liberal or NDP debate. All Federal Departments know costs ahead of time. If some of the Mayors say they were unaware it could very well be they were on the Do Not Need To know List. Corrigan is well known as a non-supporter of the RCMP.
    If you have a neighbour that you disagree with with, would you go out of your way to offer informatino to him/her, especially if thye were not involved anyway.
    Now perhaps all the Municipalities will be paying but sometimes it is far more expediant to move ahead with something vitally important and to reduce future burdens (costs) than to sit around and haggle ove nonsense that may well be politically motivated!
    1. MichaelD_10 posted on 02/02/2013 12:04 PM
      @Chuck M Not to mention that 80% of the total number of RCMP members work in BC. That only leaves 20% For the rest of Canada. I wonder if they know something BC has not figured out.
    2. Ken280 posted on 02/03/2013 12:45 PM
      @Chuck M Alex G. Tsakumis - Rebel With A Clause
      alexgtsakumis.com/3 days ago – Alex G. Tsakumis, political columnist and analyst, offers his insight on the world of politics. ... the REAL Adrian Dix, and the RCMP's TARGETED Attack on Glen Clark ... by the BC Liberals about the infamous Dix memo! Now you tell me it is not political?To many people involved and with connections to make it look very suspicious! Is should be a political debate! Go NDP Go
  7. RonE_1902 posted on 02/01/2013 07:21 PM
    Ahh... Ken280 you most likely voted Liberal last time around and do not want to admit it.

    In any event you always are voting someone out and not someone into office it seems.
  8. joes_2868 posted on 02/02/2013 11:03 AM
    Ken280: So little time left to get to that 49% plus of the majority vote!
    1. Ken280 posted on 02/03/2013 12:47 PM
      @joes_2868 The more you yammer the more people can see it is time for a change! You have run out of tampons Thumper Joe! Go NDP Go
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