The window is now open for anyone opposed to the proposal to invest in a new RCMP detachment. Advertising for this got underway Saturday in The Citizen.
If more than 10 per cent of voters signs in opposition, the question goes to full referendum; if not, the project can go ahead forthwith. This is known as the Alternate Approval Process (AAP) under provincial regulations.
It is the second time this fall that a B.C. community has gone through the AAP over an RCMP detachment. The mayor of Summerland went through the process in October and relayed some experiences.
"If you can save the costs of the referendum, save that money. Put this through at your first opportunity," said Janice Perrino. "My worry for you is, I can spend one day in McDonald's or going door to door collecting signatures, saying whatever I want to say to get you to sign. I would say to your public, your most important building is your RCMP headquarters so don't sign anything unless you know very well what you are putting your name to."
Perrino said the AAP process there was taken over by those pushing various personal agendas.
"They had known criminals coming in (to sign at City Hall) and one of them actually said 'I love it! I get to vote on throwing the police out of town," she said.
There were 1,247 signatures received during the AAP in Summerland, far more than the 843 needed. When the subsequent referendum was held on Oct. 2 the voters turned out in larger numbers than for the previous municipal election. The same number of people voiced their disapproval of the new RCMP building - 1,261 voted no - but 2,655 people voted yes, so the investment was overwhelmingly approved.
The Summerland experience, like Prince George, was mired in cost controversy. A vocal segment of the population there was concerned about the tax impact.
Their proposed building is to be about 835 square metres in size for an estimated cost of $5 million. Their municipality needed to borrow $3 million to be repaid over 20 years, on the shoulders of a total population (according to the Summerland Chamber of Commerce) of about 11,000 people.
In Prince George the population is about 71,000 and the proposed RCMP building loan is pegged at $26 million to be paid back over 20 years. According to city calculations, the annual cost to the average taxpayer (add more if you also own a business or multiple properties) is $66 per household.
"Is your safety worth $66 per year?," Perrino said. "And if you vote it down, then what do you do? You still need the building! That 18 cents a day is worth that and more. Your house insurance is more expensive than that. You need an RCMP building, you need it to meet the required safety standards, it has to be built no matter what."
Others disagree wholeheartedly. Even the city councillors tasked to study the new building's design options are lukewarm to the issue, or openly hostile. Dave Wilbur said he was reluctantly supporting the expenditure but was staggered by the cost while Brian Skakun gave the tax hit a total thumbs down.
Anyone wishing to sign your disapproval or wanting more information can call 250-561-7600 or visit the 5th floor of City Hall. The deadline is Dec. 16 with results announced at the Jan. 10 city council meeting.
