The Saskatchewan Urban Municiapaltiy Association (SUMA) is calling on the Federal Government to cover costs associated with retroactive pay for RCMP members after the new collective agreement.

SUMA, along with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and other provincial and territorial associations, is calling on the government as municipalities won’t be able to afford to cover the payment.

“Our hometowns cannot run deficit budgets, meaning increased costs in policing downloaded to municipalities need to be funded through increased taxes or reduction of municipal services,”
said SUMA President Randy Goulden said. “The recent pause in invoicing of retroactive RCMP salaries to municipalities was welcome news, but it is a band-aid solution. We need a solution that ensures our hometowns are not forced to make tough decisions on whether to make service cuts or pass the bill to residents.”

In President Goulden’s hometown of Yorkton, the city is anticipating a $1.4 million increase in its policing budget. The City of Swift Current is estimating at least $1 million in retroactive pay.

“The retroactive pay was negotiated by the federal government, and therefore the federal government should absorb the costs instead of shifting the burden to our hometowns and our residents.”