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Red Deer mayor objects to paying $6.3M for RCMP officers’ retroactive pay raise

The City of Red Deer had no voice in the collective bargaining agreement with Ottawa: Johnston
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Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston said the city should not have to pay $6.3 million for an RCMP officer retroactive pay raise going back to 2017 when the municipality wasn’t even at the bargaining table. (Photo by LANA MICHELIN/Advocate staff)

The City of Red Deer is on the hook to pay $6.3 million for a retroactive pay raise for local RCMP officers — even though the municipality wasn’t at the collective bargaining table when this deal was negotiated.

“I am extraordinarily disappointed,” said Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston, who noted coverage for the retroactive raise was not in the 2023 federal budget announced this week.

This means that the federal government is making the cities, towns and counties that depend on the RCMP responsible for covering the cost of additional wages going back to 2017.

Johnston questioned the fairness of sticking communities with this bill when they had no voice in the latest salary agreement, which was solely worked out between the RCMP union and the federal government.

Essentially, Ottawa “negotiated with municipal money but not with municipal input, (which) is not acceptable,” stated the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in a release on Thursday.

“The situation cannot occur again,” said FCM president Taneen Rudyk, who noted cities and towns cannot run deficits and have limited ways to raise revenues, except for raising taxes.

Rudyk knows many municipal councils “will be forced to make incredibly tough decisions,” such as cutting essential services, or passing the bill to residents at a time when the cost of living is already rising.

Johnston said the City of Red Deer has been setting aside some money for the last few years to help make up the amount owed without having to go to taxpayers for additional funds.

But he resents having to send “quite a cheque” to Ottawa when he believes the $6.3 million could be put toward many good uses in the community — such as towards future policing costs, housing, and other needs.

Municipalities have been advocating for months that they shouldn’t have to pay for the retroactive pay raise to RCMP officers, but despite their vocal objections, Johnston is frustrated that the federal government didn’t even opt to split this significant expense.

Rudyk sees the decision as an example of a federal commitment that deeply impacts municipalities without these communities being properly consulted or involved. According to the FCM, the situation exemplifies the need for cities, towns and counties that depend on the RCMP to be actively involved with any future police contract talks.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) represents more than 2,100 local governments at the national level, representing more than 92 per cent of Canadians in every province and territory.