M.D.’s plan for more RCMP members is on, but province didn’t confirm funding

The M.D. of Bonnyville’s proposal to the province for more RCMP members has been granted.

The confirmation came after the six municipalities in the ID349 Regional Partnership Committee pitched regional projects to improve the area.

The M.D.’s plan is to bring three more RCMP officers to the area and an additional support staff member, but the province did not confirm a dollar amount for the project, which puts it on hold for now.

“The focus of that project was to go after rural crime. This was going to be a unit that travels throughout the region, the City of Cold Lake, the town, and MD as well as the settlements. It was supported by everybody in the room at that time. What we asked for in our request was $1.6 million,” said Reeve Greg Sawchuk.

“That’s the only thing we haven’t heard back.

“We heard the project approved but we didn’t hear the actual funding amount was approved.”

This will push back the timeline of adding more RCMP members to the area.

“With us getting to an election very soon I hope it’s before that. Because from what we understand from the RCMP is sometimes you can have a s6 month delay in getting those boots on the ground,” said Sawchuk.

The $1.6 million would be used over a three-year period to fund the four positions.

The communities in the ID349 Regional Partnership Committee include the M.D. of Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Bonnyville, Glendon, Elizabeth Metis Settlement, Fishing Lake Metis Settlement.