Dear Editor:
Regarding your June 3 editorial, Royal Pain:
On reflection, both North Vancouver municipalities should say no to any long term contract with the Mounties because of the present lack of accountability. They should look to a shared municipal police department - there's a building already available.
There are far too many decisions remotely taken in Ottawa (the coast guard fiasco being the latest), and policing has to be fully accountable locally as we pay the tab.
Why was the new extremely costly RCMP headquarters building built in Surrey when there is still a major issue over the RCMP remaining in B.C.? We taxpayers never gave permission for Victoria to pay for this new HQ nor was it mentioned in the 2009 Liberal election platform. It was built before any 20-year renewal contract was even considered, yet again, behind closed doors. North Vancouver should not have to share the cost of this new RCMP building.
Anything our politicians (most especially in Victoria) say or promise in regards to the RCMP in B.C. has to be taken with a very large pinch of salt.
This is such an important issue for the province that the 20-year contract should go to provincial binding referendum for ratification in the May 2013 provincial election.
Bob Tarplett West Vancouver
