Police costs rise

Rural municipalities and urban municipalities with populations of less than 5,000 will see an annual increase in their RCMP policing costs. Starting April 1, 8.0 per cent will be added to their current fee structure.

This represents a $4.20 per capita increase for communities with an RCMP detachment, and a $2.60 per capita increase for communities that do not have an RCMP detachment. Current rates are $52.45 per capita for communities with a detachment and $32.45 for communities without a detachment.

"This government is committed to sustaining effective and affordable policing through the Provincial Police Services Agreement," Corrections, Public Safety and Policing Minister D.F. (Yogi) Huyghebaert said. "At the same time, we need to ensure a balance between the province's share of policing costs and those directly receiving the services."

The current fee structure has not changed since 2006. Since then, the cost of RCMP policing throughout the province has increased by 57 per cent. In 2011-12, the province spent $149.7 million to support RCMP policing.