Minister rejects pitch for western N.B. police force to replace RCMP

A proposal to create a new regional police force in western New Brunswick to replace the RCMP has been rejected by the province's public safety minister.

Kris Austin rejected the pitch from Carleton North and Hartland in a March 25 letter.

Austin pointed to finances, difficulty hiring local officers and various changes to policing underway in the province as reasons for the decision.

"With so many activities associated to policing taking place, standing up a police force with so many unknowns would be challenging at this time," Austin wrote in the letter.

"For these reasons, I regret to inform you that at this time, I am unable to support the creation of a new police force."

Public Safety Minister Kris Austin has rejected a request by Carleton North and Hartland to create a new regional police force to replace the RCMP. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

Carleton North Mayor Andrew Harvey, who read the letter , called it a disappointing decision. It was a sentiment echoed by several councillors who spoke during the meeting.

The mayor said it leaves the community of 13,000, which includes Bath, Florenceville-Bristol, Centreville and surrounding rural areas, without local control over policing costs or police visibility.

He said that without an RCMP detachment in the community, officers must drive long distances to patrol or answer calls.

"We stand by what we presented," Harvey said in an interview Wednesday. "We feel there needs to be some kind of change in rural New Brunswick in terms of police service."

Harvey said his criticism isn't about individual officers.

Austin's letter was briefly discussed during a Hartland council meeting Tuesday. Hartland Mayor Tracey DeMerchant did not respond to an emailed request for comment Wednesday.

The plan submitted called for a regional force with about 20 officers and an operating budget of just over $3 million.

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Carleton North pays $2 million for the RCMP, or 21 per cent of its operating budget, Harvey said. Hartland pays about $1 million.

The mayor said there's a lack of local input on that spending and uncertainty about how it will change in the coming years.

Austin did not provide an interview Wednesday.

The provincial government is responsible for the policing service contract for the two communities.

Staffing could be challenging: Austin

Austin's letter said the proposal to hire and retain 20 local officers "may prove quite challenging."

The proposal called for "substantial financial investment and administrative dependency on other police forces," he minister said. "

This includes financial support for the start-up and capital costs as well as mutual aid agreements with police agencies on mandated essential policing services and specialized services."

The letter also pointed to the province's plan announced last year to increase the number of frontline RCMP officers by 51. RCMP last year outlined where those officers will be located.

The Western Valley Regional Service Commission, which includes Hartland and Carleton North, would be allocated six more officers, bringing the total for the region to 35.

Harvey said he has noticed improvements in recent months by the RCMP.

But the mayor said the underlying issues that led to the regional policing request remain and they will have to work with the province on addressing them.

"We're confident in our approach, we're confident in our numbers," Harvey said.

"We're confident that the model we presented for rural New Brunswick is the best model and addresses those issues of engagement, presence, visibility, accountability, cost certainty and those issues we have to deal with as a municipality."