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HRM to consider RCMP staffing recommendations, procedural issue reopens debate
January 3, 2024 By Luke Ettinger, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Jan. 3, 2024, Halifax, N.S. – The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) board of police commissioners voted on a resource request from the Halifax District RCMP on Nov. 29, but that is null and void.
There was a “procedural deficiency” with that vote, said Brynn Budden, a spokesperson for the municipality, in a statement to The Journal on Dec. 15.
“There was no notice in the advertised agenda of a vote on the RCMP request,” said Budden.
The matter came back before the police commission on Dec. 13.
RCMP asked the board to consider recommending funding for six new positions in the 2024/25 operating budget. Four of the roles would be general duty officers and two would focus on intimate partner violence.
Jeffrey Christie, chief superintendent for Halifax District RCMP, said the force that delivers service to rural HRM is seeing a rise in calls. There were more than 56,500 in 2022 compared to 51,300 in 2018.
“What does this rapidly growing population mean in terms of core service delivery?” offered Christie.
He said officers are also spending more time in hospital emergency rooms, which is part of the reason why the RCMP would like designated officers for intimate partner violence.
In November, the commissioners voted to recommend funding only two of the positions after a presentation.
“The agenda listed a presentation but no recommended motion,” said Budden.
A vote on the funding recommendation, which will then be considered by the budget committee, was tabled until the Monday, Jan. 8 board of police commissioners meeting.
– The Guysborough Journal
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